Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL several weeks ago, but even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not ruled out the possibility of the star quarterback changing his mind.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht spoke with NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Tuesday about the team’s plans in the post-Brady era. He said he believes the Bucs can still win in 2022 but that they want to “keep our eye on the future, too.” He was then asked about a potential Brady comeback. His response was noteworthy.
Jason Licht on @gmfb on Tom Brady's retirement and the Bucs' plans at QB: "Trying to make our plans to move forward, if that's the case that we need to move forward."
Licht added: "We’re going to leave the light on for Tom Brady.”
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) March 1, 2022
Brady is still under contract with the Bucs. Licht may have been stating the obvious by saying Brady would be welcomed back, but that could be an indication that Tampa Bay is not planning to pursue a star quarterback via trade.
There have been rumblings that the Buccaneers are keeping tabs on Deshaun Watson and another star QB. If they did make a move like that and Brady decided to return, they would obviously have to trade the seven-time Super Bowl champion. One theory is that Brady is hoping that happens so he can join a new team.
For now, Brady seems content in retirement. Even he has not ruled out playing again at some point, but it seems unlikely.
Photo: Aug 28, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) jogs off the field after a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
