Tom Brady is obviously identified with the number 12.
It was the jersey number he wore through 20 dynastic, Hall of Fame seasons in New England.
Heck, he's built an entire brand and budding business empire around TB12.
But when he decided to leave the Patriots and sign with Tampa Bay last spring, there was a chance he might need a new number. When the GOAT took his talented to Florida, the Bucs already had a star player wearing No. 12 – Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin.
According to Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht, as he embarked on the second phase of his career in his new NFL home, Brady wasn't too worried about getting his trademark No. 12.
Appearing on The Peter King Podcast, Licht revealed that Brady had another number in mind, one that carried some significance to the six-time Super Bowl champion.
"I said, Hey, there's one other thing. It's a small thing, but maybe a big thing. We have a number 12 on our team and he's pretty good, Chris Godwin. What are you thinking about that?," Licht recalled of his conversation with his new quarterback when Brady chose to sign with the Bucs.
"Tom said, 'Oh, he's a great player. I'm not going to take his number. You know what number I'm thinking of? I'm thinking of taking maybe number 7. Is that available,' he goes. I said, 'Yeah, I think it is. Why seven?'
"He goes, 'Go after that seventh Super Bowl.' He goes, 'That's pretty cool.'"
Eventually Godwin and Brady worked out a deal and the quarterback remained in his traditional No. 12.
But apparently TB7 was a possibility.
And Super Bowl number seven is indeed a very real possibility for Brady at this point, as he and the NFC-champion Bucs prepare for the Feb. 7 showdown with Patrick Mahomes' defending-champion Chiefs in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium.
Quite a story.
