It was a sad scene on Thursday night in Miami, as Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited the game after suffering his third known concussion since the beginning of the 2022 season.
The football world is speculating whether or not this could mark the end of the 26-year-old’s 2024 season, and possibly be the end of his playing career. It’s a truly sad situation for a player who has steadily improved year-over-year in one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
With any quarterback injury of this magnitude, the rumors begin to swirl immediately about what the organization will do to save the season under center. With the roster built to “win now,” it’s not hyperbole to say that having Skylar Thompson or Tim Boyle step in to play quarterback would be wasting a prime season for both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle - two of the most dynamic wide receivers in all of football.
So what’s the move, Miami?
In come the Tom Brady rumors (and bad internet photoshops).
Brady’s former teammate Jermaine Wiggins spent some time on Thursday’s edition of The Greg Hill Show playing out a scenario that would see the 47-year-old Miami resident taking over the Dolphins in 2024.
“If Tom Brady came back and played today,” said Wiggy. “Let’s just say he did, and he went to Miami. Team’s in his backyard, doesn’t have to travel, doesn’t have to go away to the west coast. They have an unbelievable offense. They have the most dominant skill player in the NFL in Tyreek Hill.
“If Tom Brady came back today, honestly, would he be looked at as a top 10 quarterback?”
Brady last played in an NFL game during the 2022 playoffs, where his 8-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers got blown out at home in the Wild Card round by the Dallas Cowboys 31-14. It was a disappointing final season for the greatest quarterback of all-time in the win-loss column, especially since that 2022 season came after a brief 40-day retirement after the 2021 season. Brady returned for one final ride, and it ended up being much bumpier than he had hoped for.
Despite the losing that year, Wiggy pointed out on Thursday that Brady individually was still great, which he believes shows that the seven-time Super Bowl champion still has enough left in the tank to be a high-level player in 2024.
“His last year - top 10 touchdowns, top five passing yards,” listed Wiggy. “Overall, he was third, his final year, in passing yards with almost 4,700 - he was behind Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, third!
“He was top 10 when it comes to touchdowns. He had 25 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. His quarterback rating that year was a little low at 90. But we’re talking about a team in Miami that - look what Tua’s able to do with that type of talent.”
Some detractors to the Brady-to-Miami storyline have pointed to Brady’s massive broadcasting contract with FOX Sports - 10 years, $375 million. Brady began his first season in the booth for FOX during Week 1, and the performance was met with mostly negative reviews.
Whether Brady becomes the next John Madden or not is a debate for another day.
Regardless of his TV chops, Greg Hill believes Brady’s job at FOX “will wait for him,” alluding to the fact that Brady’s current employer shouldn’t be a major factor in any decision related to him coming back to the playing field.
Brady and the Dolphins have flirted in the past, so much so that Miami was stripped of two draft picks in 2023 (including their first rounder) after the organization was found guilty by the league of tampering with Brady and Saints head coach Sean Payton while they were under contract with different teams. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was fined and suspended for his part in the tampering.
“If I am Stephen Ross, and I have this team that’s ready-made, I would absolutely entertain [signing Brady],” said Greg Hill Show executive producer Chris Curtis.
Wiggy agrees with Curtis.
“This is something that the owner of the Dolphins is probably picking up the phone every single day. ‘Tom, please come play’ - and he’ll do that all season long,” said Wiggy.
“Tyreek Hill just did an extension. You’re not gonna waste this guy’s - [Hill] is getting towards the end of his career. Mike McDaniel has a team that has a high-powered offense. It’s their reality, I don’t know why people don’t see that.”
Greg asked Wiggy, “Do you agree with this text message, that if [Brady] came back and beat Patrick Mahomes, it would be the greatest sports story ever?”
“Yeah, I would,” said Wiggy. “That would be the greatest sports story ever. A guy takes two years off. He’s the greatest quarterback of all-time. He goes, [broadcasts] a couple football games, comes back, and next thing you know, he’s hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.”
“And he would win the Super Bowl where it all began - New Orleans!” exclaimed Curtis.
For now, the next time we will see Brady will be back in the broadcast booth. He’ll be on the call for the Saints at Cowboys at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
Will he be swapping his microphone for a football in Week 3?
Probably not. But it would be a hell of a story.