Tom Brady’s comeback hopes blocked
Speculation over whether Tom Brady could ever slip back into an NFL huddle has been shut down once again this time by Brady himself. The retired quarterback said he’s no longer eligible for a return, a clarification that came as chatter built around whether other veteran players might resurface late in the season.
Brady, often described as the most decorated quarterback the league has seen, closed out his career with seven Super Bowl titles and an unmatched statistical track record.
Six of those championships came during his long run with the New England Patriots, while his short stint in Tampa Bay added one more to the collection.
Ownership obstacles
During an appearance on The Herd, host Colin Cowherd asked Brady whether he could still jump into an offense he already understood. Brady said the ability is still there, but rules governing team ownership now stand in the way.
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Under NFL policy, individuals with an equity stake in a club cannot suit up as active players a safeguard intended to keep competitive roles and business interests separate.
The New York Post has reported that Brady’s 10-year broadcasting contract with Fox Sports is worth roughly $375 million, placing him among the highest-paid analysts in the industry. He also purchased a minority share of the Las Vegas Raiders last year, a move that effectively closes the door on any playing return.
As conversation shifted to Phillip Rivers whose name has resurfaced in discussions about quarterback shortages around the league Brady noted that his own situation is very different now.
What he said
When Cowherd asked whether he could still “generate drives” in the right system, Brady didn’t shy away. “I certainly could… I would say the answer for me would be yes,” he said. “I’m not allowed to anymore, because I’m an owner, a minority owner of the Raiders. So I can’t un-retire. But I’m very excited to watch Philip play.”
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Rivers, 42, has recently been mentioned as a potential emergency option for teams dealing with injuries, which prompted Cowherd’s comparison.
Past reversals
Brady has reversed retirement before. He stepped away in February 2022, only to return six weeks later, saying he still had “unfinished business” with the Buccaneers. His final season ended with a playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys, after which he posted a video declaring he was “retiring for good.”
His competitive edge may still be intact, but given the league’s ownership rules, any hypothetical comeback remains off the table no matter the circumstances.
Sources: New York Post, Fox Sports
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