It appears rumors about the demise of the working relationship between quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have been prematurely exaggerated.
For an NFL Network segment that aired on Wednesday, league insider Mike Garafolo reported that the Buccaneers are asking offensive coordinator candidates during interviews what they would do to get Brady “back on track” if he remains an active player with the organization for another season:
Additionally, the Joe Bucs Fan website which is known for routinely having “inside intel” regarding the team mentioned that “word from One Buc Palace was that the Bucs still considered themselves in the running to retain Brady.”
Before a Buccaneers team that claimed the NFC South title with a record of 8-9 was thrashed by the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 in the wild-card round of the playoffs, it was said that Tampa Bay “very much” wants Brady back for another campaign. Brady may wait until after Super Bowl LVII or even March to publicly announce his plans for 2023, but the suggestion as it pertains to Wednesday’s update is that he would’ve given somebody within the Buccaneers an early heads up if he already had one foot out the door.
Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians previously coached Brady and said in November he believed the 45-year-old would want to remain living close to his children if he continues playing. Gisele Bündchen, Brady’s ex-wife, bought a home in the Miami Beach area during the fall.
It’s also worth noting that Arians apparently was left “extremely unhappy” over coaching changes recently made by the Buccaneers that included parting ways with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and also the supposed retirement of quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen. Arians, Leftwich and Christensen are said to be close with Brady, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion may embrace the challenge of helping head coach Todd Bowles choose a new offensive coordinator for a roster both the signal-caller and Bowles know better than any new assistant.
Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s longtime friend and teammate, hinted on Wednesday that Brady “truly” hasn’t yet made up his mind about the future.
