by Ben Perks
Only six weeks after announcing his retirement, Tom Brady is making an NFL comeback. The news of one of the greatest players in NFL history rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has led online sportsbook Bovada to slash their odds from +2500 to +700, making them the new favorites to win Super Bowl 57 in 2023.
Brady’s Back
44-year-old Tom Brady originally announced his retirement after eventual champions Los Angeles Rams knocked Tampa Bay out of the playoffs in the divisional round (27-30) in January.
However, on Sunday, Brady said on social media that he has “unfinished business” and will rejoin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” he said on Twitter.
“That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa.”
Behind Tampa, Bovada has the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and Kansas City Chiefs – all at +750 to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy next year.
From Pick 199 to NFL GOAT
After the New England Patriots decided to take a chance on Brady with the 199th pick of the 2000 draft, “Tom Terrific” led the NFL franchise to six Super Bowl wins. In 2020, Brady moved to the Bucs and helped them win the Super Bowl in his first season. Also, in the 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady won MVP for the fifth time in his career.
Although the three-time NFL season MVP had a year remaining on his contract last season, he chose to bow out of America’s favorite sport. As he amassed a career-high of 5,316 passing yards last season and is the all-time record holder for passing yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624), many Bucs fans and coaching staff we’re dismayed with his decision to retire.
When quizzed about a return for Brady a few weeks ago, coach Bruce Arians said: “That door is never closed.”
Reaction to Brady’s Return
Tampa head coach Arians has welcomed Brady’s decision to come out of retirement, and the team’s general manager Jason Licht stated that he was “thrilled”.
“Tom Brady loves to play football as much as anyone I have ever been around,” said Arians. “As Tom said, his place right now is on the football field.
“He is still playing at a championship level and was as productive as anyone in the league last season. We are ecstatic that he decided to continue playing and working toward winning another championship.”
The American quarterback featured in 10 Super Bowls, including the historic comeback from 28-3 down against the Atlanta Falcons to win 28-34 to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy with the Patriots in 2017.
The fan who caught the ball for Brady’s last touchdown after it was thrown into the stands sold it via Lelands, a sports memorabilia auction company, for $518,628 to an anonymous buyer the day before Brady announced his return.
“If there is any item in the field of sports collectibles that needs no embellishment, it is this historical piece: the final touchdown ball of Tom Brady’s career,” wrote Lelands.
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
