Getty Images
Tom Brady entered the free agent market a year ago with six Super Bowl rings, 249 career wins, three league MVP awards, four Super Bowl MVP awards and the GOAT title. The quarterback does not believe that he is a big risk for the Bucs.
Bucs coach Bruce Arians follows a “no risk, no cookies” philosophy, but Brady’s story has made him as safe as a free agent as there is. The only issue was Brady’s age: he turned 43 at the start of the 2020 season.
“I would like to think that I haven’t had much of a chance after many years,” said Brady. “Becoming a free agent and then having the opportunity to continue my career as a player, I loved the opportunity that presented itself here, which is why I chose it here. I really love the coaching staff. I loved the players they had. I looked at those players and thought, ‘Wow, these players are really great. This would be a good opportunity for me. ‘Obviously, a different conference and a different division – all of which I didn’t know very well. In the end, I just [had] many different options. I don’t want to revisit them all, but I am very detailed and complete. I went through a decision making process and thinking about everything that really mattered to me in some way [and] one way or another. Obviously, many family considerations. My son lives in New York and I didn’t want to be too far from him. It ended up being a great fit and how it went. “
It worked for Bucs and Brady.
Brady shot for 4,633 yards with 40 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the regular season. It was the fifth highest number of yards in his career and the second highest number of touchdowns in his career. His 102.2 passer rank tied for sixth best in his career.
Better yet, the Bucs will play in their second Super Bowl and Brady in their tenth.
“I just thought, ‘Wow, this was really a magical year,'” said Brady. “For me, as a player, changing teams requires a lot. Moving my family, going to a different conference, continuing to build as we did and developing a relationship with the guys we have here – a lot of football is about the relationships you have with your teammates [and your] coaches. The fact that we are still playing is very good for me and [I] understand that we put a lot into it. With luck, we can finish the job. That would be the best part of the season. It was always a goal to win the last game of the year. We have an opportunity to do that. It certainly won’t be easy. It will take everything we have. We will face a great team of champion level, and will do our best. “