Tom Brady announced to the world that he is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL. The revelation came on Sunday from the seven-time Super Bowl champions, Twitter and Instagram.
Brady cemented his decision with the cryptic but very telling line, saying he has “unfinished business.” The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw their storied QB return for another run at a chip with that one social media post.
“These past two months, I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” Brady posted. “That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG”
These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG pic.twitter.com/U0yhRKVKVm
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 13, 2022
Brady’s Back
On the same day, Brady also posted a video on his Instagram Stories showing soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo asking him one question:
“You’re finished, right?”
Although Brady’s answer couldn’t be heard, his face said it all. The GOAT is not done. The logical reason why a 44-year-old who has won the most Super Bowls out of any other quarterback would want to return is simple: go out on top.
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 12, 2022
Last postseason, Brady and the Buccaneers advanced to the divisional round to face off against the Los Angeles Rams. Although the Bucs were behind 27–3 in the third quarter, Brady drove 24 unanswered points to tie the game.
However, a field goal in the closing seconds to defeat the Buccaneers 30–27. The Rams later went on to win Super Bowl LVI.
Damn, even Tom Brady saw 7.9% inflation and record-high gas prices and decided he needed to go back to work.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 13, 2022
The Perfect Ending
For Brady, it stalled the ending he wanted for his career. Brady wanted to leave the game with one more chip for a total of eight. But in his pursuit of perfection, is he risking his legacy?
Brady announced his retirement on Feb. 1 after 22 seasons. When he was with the franchise, he upgraded them like their 13–4 regular-season record in 2021, the best in franchise history.
“[Head coach Bruce Arians] and I have had plenty of conversations with Tom recently that led us to believe there was a realistic chance he would want to come back,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said in a statement on Sunday night.
“Tom is the greatest quarterback of all time who is still playing at an elite level. With this decision now made, we will continue to move forward with our offseason plans to reload this roster for another championship run.”
Legacy?
With the sport on the eve of NFL free agency, Brady is always an attractive asset to make a case for joining the Buccs. The Bucs are currently $11 million over the salary cap, and key players like Rob Gronkowski have yet to commit to a return for the 2022 season.
However, Brady runs the risk of not advancing to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row with his return. Although he lost in the NFC Championship Game, only a Super Bowl win would provide the finish that he is seeking.
Will his legacy be tarnished by seeking another championship? For Brady, it is worth the risk.
