Tom Brady hinted earlier this week that he could be interested in making a return to the NFL and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes there is some steam that could lead to Brady playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
Florio noted Friday that Brady posted an advertisement on social media where he is running shirtless for his apparel company No Bull. While it can be dismissed as nothing more than a social media post, Florio suggested that it could be a reminder that Brady may be interested in returning to the NFL.
Tom Brady may be retired, but he still looks to be doing a lot of training. (đź“ą via Brady's Instagram) pic.twitter.com/lQ1dXYU62M
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) April 18, 2024
“With Brady, there are no accidents or coincidences,” Florio claimed. “Everything is planned. (That’s not a criticism, just a reality.) He knew what his words would do, he had an objective in uttering them.”
Brady got things rolling earlier this week by saying on the “Deep Cuts with VicBlends” podcast that he’s not opposed to “the possibility” of coming back during the season if a team’s starting quarterback got injured during the season.
Any comeback would have its hurdles as Brady is slated to begin as a color commentator for FOX next season and is set to become a minority owner for the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s also set to turn 47 in August but that didn’t stop him from suggesting a comeback during the podcast.
“I’m not opposed to it,” Brady said. “I don’t know if they’re going to let me, if I become the owner of an NFL team, but I don’t know if — I don’t know if I’m always going to be in good shape, [I’ll] always be able to throw the ball. So to come in for a little bit like [Michael Jordan] coming back? I don’t know if they’d let me but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Florio took Brady’s words a step further, connecting dots to the Vikings, Washington Commanders and Denver Broncos. He suggested that one of those three teams, or perhaps the Patriots or Raiders, could wind up calling Brady sometime around the NFL Draft.
“I believe [Brady] wants the phone to ring before or right after the draft,” Florio said. “…Other quarterback-needy teams could be interested, too, depending on what happens next week.”
“Regardless, Brady is making sure teams know he’s available. It will be interesting to see whether anyone calls,” Florio added. “Someone should. Brady would be a middle-of-the-pack-or-better quarterback right now, and he would definitely sell jerseys and put asses in seats.”
Brady is a six-time Super Bowl champion, winning five titles with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady flirted with retirement but came back after the 2021 season and retired “for good” after the 2022 season.
But even with his other projects, Brady keeps leaving the door open for a return. Could Brady wind up in Minnesota? It’s a question that could play out this summer or in the days around next week’s draft.
