Is Tom Brady planning to retire in 2023? What the Buccaneers QB said about returning to his 24th NFL season

Tom Brady’s retirement last offseason lasted 40 days, but going into 2022, it seemed like the assumption was that this would be his last season.

Brady has long said his goal is to play until he’s 45, and with reported marital problems and eventual divorce, there was little thought of returning for a 24th season. , if he was due to retire a year ago, what were the chances of him playing a few more seasons?

But now that the season is over and new reports are trickling in, we’ve learned a lot more about Brady’s plans for the future.

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Here’s what we know about whether Brady will retire after this season.

Will Tom Brady retire in 2023?

Brady has not said if he plans to retire this offseason, but has hinted at a possible return.

NFL Network reported in December that “all options are on the table” for Brady in 2023. According to reports, Brady “feels good enough to keep playing,” and has become more himself as he veers further away from his very public divorce. It was finalized early in the season.

The NFL Network also said Brady entered the season with plans to retire, but may be open to considering his options in free agency.

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Does that mean a return to the Buccaneers isn’t being considered? Not necessarily. According to Ian Rapoport, he has a “huge love” for the franchise, and their team has spent a lot of money placing the pieces around him.

But Tampa went just 8-9 last season, and reports (and the results of an NFL falsification investigation) suggested Brady would join the Dolphins last year before the Brian Flores lawsuit derailed that chance. If you’ve considered other options before, you may want to consider them again.

Of course, even if Brady came into the season with plans to retire, it’s still possible he will retire accordingly.

The 2022 season will be one of Brady’s most challenging. It was his first losing season in the NFL, and he averaged a career-worst 9.6 yards per completion. Offensive Lines and Receives His Corp injuries, questionable play and his calls have contributed to the Buccaneers’ problems, but Brady doesn’t look like he used to.

MORE: Breaking down Tom Brady’s records with the Buccaneers and Patriots season by season

Brady said on “Let’s Go!” in December. The next time he considers retirement, he’s taking the time to plan a podcast.

“I think what I really realized last year was that you have to really make sure you do that,” he told Jim Gray, adding that it was his last decision to retire next. He added that

Brady also said he hadn’t considered the possibility of retiring during the season. not.

Perhaps many teams could bet on a 46-year-old version of Brady, including the Buccaneers, so it’s up to him if he continues his career.

tom brady contract

Brady will be a free agent for the second time in his career after this season.

The 45-year-old was making $15 million in 2022, most of which was included in his signing bonuses, but the rest of his complicated contract expires after the season.

Brady may not play for the Buccaneers next season, but he’s expected to rack up just over $35 million for a 2023 Tampa Bay cap. of money.