We may never fully understand why Tom Brady announced his retirement only to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers less than two months later, but one reporter offered a juicy theory this week on what may have led to Brady changing his mind.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported last month that the Miami Dolphins had big offseason plans at one point to pursue both Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. The supposed plan was to have Payton coach the team and Brady join the organization as a part-owner and player. The plans fell apart when Brian Flores made numerous allegations against the Dolphins in his lawsuit.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says he can confirm the Florio report is true. He wondered on WEEI’s “Merloni & Fauria” show Tuesday if Miami’s plan had something to do with Brady retiring.
“I know that’s true because I heard it independently, and I know I heard it from a different source than Mike Florio heard it,” Volin said. “So that to me is the key. So Brady announces his retirement on the morning of February 1, a Tuesday. What happens that same day? Brian Flores files his lawsuit against the Miami Dolphins. Throws a wrench in the entire plan.
“Brady was not gonna go to Miami necessarily to be the quarterback. He was gonna be Derek Jeter. He was gonna team up with Payton and run the Dolphins. He was gonna run the front office. It was gonna be [Dolphins owner] Stephen Ross’ big heist. You don’t need permission from the Bucs to get Brady to run your front office. And Sean Payton was gonna be his coach. Sean Payton and Brady are both represented by Don Yee, so there’s a whole connection there.”
Volin theorized that Brady may have wanted no part in the lawsuit but was not ready to retire.
“So now Brady’s looking at it, ‘Well, what am I gonna do? Sit around on my couch for a year? No, I might as well go play football,’” Volin said.
Brady announced his decision to play in 2022 after he attended the Manchester United game in England over the weekend. He spent time with the Glazer family, who own Manchester United and the Buccaneers. Volin believes the 44-year-old may have used that time to address the supposed issues he had with Arians and the team last season.
“Here’s what I think happened: the Glazers are very much indebted to Brady,” Volin added. “I think Brady went to the Glazers and said, ‘Look, I’ll come back, but we have to fix something with Bruce Arians. You have to talk to the coach.’
“So I think he went directly to the owner, told him what his issues are, and the owner said, ‘You know what, we’ll figure it out.’ And then the next day, after going to that Man U game, Brady announces he’s coming back.”
That’s a lot to process, and Volin may be overthinking it. Either way, it is bizarre that Brady would announce his retirement and then change his mind so quickly. If he wasn’t sure about his plan, why not just say that and take some time to think it over?
This certainly isn’t the first wild theory we have heard about Brady’s retirement.
Photo: Jan 16, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) drops back to pass in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
