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While appearing on the Manningcast during the Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals, sports media personality and former ESPN writer Bill Simmons speculated that he believes Tom Brady could head back to New England next season.
The basis of Simmons’ theory is that he doesn’t think Brady is going to retire, but he also doesn’t think he’s going to stay in Tampa Bay given that the team looks primed for a rebuild.
That, combined with his relationship with Pats owner Robert Kraft and the sophomore slump that Mac Jones has experienced this year, leads Simmons to believe that TB12 might consider one final go-round with the Patriots to close out his career.
“I was talking on my podcast a week and a half ago, I don’t think Brady is going to retire. I don’t think he’s going to be in Tampa next year and I do wonder is there a possibility he could come back next year – a farewell thing. You know how much he means to Bob Kraft. Could this be the way to put a bow on it? Could he come back for one last season?” Simmons wondered.
“I think Kraft and Brady have a great relationship,” Simmons said. “And one of the things about Mac Jones, you saw him have that turnover before, this has happened all year with him. He really took a step back this year. The pocket awareness stuff, even that interception, you either have to get rid of the ball and move up. Over and over again it just seems like he hasn’t been comfortable in the pocket. I don’t really know what happened.”
Despite their struggles this year, Brady and the 6-7 Tampa Bay Bucs are still currently on course to make the playoffs as they lead the NFC South. Should the Bucs win the NFC South, not only will they qualify for the postseason but they’ll also host a game at home in the wild card round.