TAMPA, Florida – Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has said repeatedly throughout his career that he would like to play until the age of 45. But now, at 43, and getting ready to play in his 10th Super Bowl and the first with Bucs, he is open to playing beyond that.
“Definitely. I would definitely consider that,” said Brady on Monday. “It is a physical sport. Only the perspective I have is that you never know when that moment is. Just because it is a contact sport. There is a lot of training for that. And you have to be 100% committed to myself to keep doing it. “
After 20 years with the New England Patriots, playing in a “dink and dunk” attack style, many questioned whether Brady would be able to transition to Bruce Arians’ “No Risk It, No Biscuit” attack. But Brady’s 5,493 yard passes this season, including the playoffs, are the fourth most in his career. His 4,633 passing yards during the regular season were the fifth longest in his career. His 34 submissions on passes from 20 or more air yards were the highest in the league this season and the highest of his career.
“I think I’ll know when it’s time,” said Brady. “I don’t know when that moment will come. But I think I will. And I will understand that I gave everything I could to give this game. You invested a lot in it. I don’t think I could go to this half-ass game. I have to put everything in it. When I put everything out there, [when] I feel like I can’t do this anymore, I don’t feel like I can commit to the team in the way that it needs me, so I think that’s when it’s probably time to leave. “
Brady made a career defying expectations, including his own. From his time at Junipero Sierra High School in San Mateo, California, to being a seventh streak quarterback in Michigan to play in his first Super Bowl in New Orleans, after taking over from Drew Bledsoe – he had to keep raising the bar , which is a big reason why he is open to continue playing beyond his original goal, along with the help of fitness coach Alex Guerrero, who moved to Tampa to continue working with him.
Bucs’ external linebacker coach Larry Foote, Brady’s teammate in Michigan, even joked: “Looking back, [coach] Lloyd Carr said, ‘Dude, why don’t you let Tom throw the ball right and left?’ Because we were a first team in Michigan. And you see him in the professionals and you are going to spread and he just does what he wants. He doesn’t lose. He was always the leader. We always knew we were in every game when he was at the center. Nothing changed. He was humble at the time and is still humble now. He’s just the final competitor. That hasn’t changed. “
Brady admitted that he surprised even himself.
“I could never have imagined it would be like this. I don’t think anyone could have imagined it,” said Brady. “[I’ve] I tried to play for real every week. I’m still trying to do that. That job for me was never about – I would think success is passing yards or touchdowns or Super Bowls – it was always maximizing my potential, being the best I could be. “
“When I showed up as a freshman in high school, I didn’t know how to put protectors on my pants. I just expected to play football in high school because I wanted to be like Joe Montana and Steve Young. When I was chosen by the Patriots, I just wanted to play, I just wanted to start. It has been a series of steps to try to be a little better each year, trying to learn a little more each year, trying to grow and evolve in different areas.
“My life has certainly taken many different directions,” said Brady. “I am obviously older now. I have a family. Many incredible blessings in my life. Going 21 years old, sitting in Tampa and trying to win a Super Bowl at our stadium at home would be great.”
The family will have a big role in determining how long Brady will play. He is committed to being a present husband and father. He is married to Gisele Bundchen and has two children, Benny (11) and Vivi (8), along with Jack (13), who lives with his mother, Bridget Moynahan, in New York and was ready to see him play at the NFC championship game. He acknowledged the sacrifices his family made while he continues to play. Even this week, with the Super Bowl at his home in Tampa, his family gave him 12 days to himself.
He has a two-year $ 50 million contract with the Bucs, but he is enjoying himself and has been rejuvenated by the challenge of learning a new attack. He is enjoying a new environment with new coaches and new teammates, living on the water and enjoying the picturesque sunset at night. But he will always look back on his journey with the Patriots with great affection, including the time he spent with coach Bill Belichick.
“I have a great relationship with him,” said Brady. “I am extremely grateful for what he meant in my life as a coach. He was everything you could ask for as a player. I loved my time [there]. I had two incredible decades there. My football journey took me to a different place and I certainly would never have accomplished things in my career without your support and teaching. Amazing coach and mentor to me. I’ve had a lot of them in my career, but obviously he’s at the top of the list. “