That didn’t take long. Roughly one month after Tom Brady announced he was retiring from the NFL — this time “for good” — there are already rumblings about him coming back.
Even Brett Favre’s constant retirement charade wasn’t this easy to see through.
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In fairness, Brady isn’t perpetuating any of these rumors himself. In fact, he’s only posted on Instagram twice since his retirement announcement Feb. 1, and is busy promoting his partnership with Jota Sport’s hypercar racing team — whatever that is. But with NFL free agency beginning next week, word is starting to creep out that Brady may not be finished with football after all.
On Monday, NFL Network star Rich Eisen said on his radio show that Brady returning and playing for the Dolphins was the top rumor he heard at the Combine.
“The one place that folks are saying to keep an eye out for is Miami,” said Eisen. “If the Dolphins, somehow or some way get a doctor’s report or piece of information from a medical evaluation of Tua [Tagovailoa] that he may not be ready to go, and suddenly there’s Tom Brady sitting in Florida, where his family is located and where he can easily locate himself. Keep an eye out for that, I was told by a couple birdies at the Combine.”
The Dolphins’ potential interest in Brady isn’t surprising. An NFL investigation found they tampered with Brady at least three separate times from 2019-2022, including when he was still under contract with the Patriots.
Brady was apparently ready to ditch the Buccaneers and join the Dolphins last year, but then Brian Flores’ lawsuit over racial discrimination spurned those plans.
The Dolphins were stripped two draft picks, including their 2023 first-round selection,
Earlier this offseason, Miami committed to Tagovailoa as its starting quarterback, but that could change. Tagovailoa suffered two confirmed concussions and another suspected concussion last season. He might not be ready to play.
The 49ers are the other team that’s been tied to Brady, albeit loosely. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported Monday that an anonymous NFL Insider told him the 49ers would be “absolutely crazy not to sign [Brady] to a one-year deal.”
Apparently, that so-called anonymous NFL Insider forgot that Brady has filed his retirement papers. The 49ers can’t negotiate with him until, or if, he decides to play out his age-46 season.
Those closest to Brady are concerned about how he’ll adapt to post-NFL life. His father, Tom Brady Sr., told the Atlantic he thinks his son is going to have a “huge void in his life.”
Playing football again is probably the easiest way for Brady to fill that hole. But at what cost?