New England Patriots
The 48-year-old QB says he’s happily retired, but admits he couldn’t help but look into what the NFL rules say about a possible return.
Tom Brady Michael Owens/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS
-
Kraft-owned New England Revolution backing White Stadium renovation
-
Tom Brady brought jokes, nostalgia, and a comeback tease to Jimmy Fallon ahead of flag football debut
Tom Brady has been retired from NFL football for three years now, but the itch to play never seems to go away from the 48-year-old former quarterback.
During a recent interview with CNBC, Brady said he looked into options for a potential return to the NFL gridiron after purchasing a minority stake in the Raiders, but the league wasn’t thrilled with the idea.
He was asked whether he looked into the league’s rules around the possibility of a minority owner stepping in to play on a temporary basis.
“It’s funny that you ask. I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady said. “So I’m going to leave it at that.”
“We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired,” he added. “Let me just say that, too.”
An NFL spokesperson told CNBC that Brady would have to divest his ownership stake in the Raiders in order to play. The NFL has a policy that doesn’t allow active players or team employees to have ownership in the teams.
“In addition, there would be salary cap issues involving a player/owner,” the spokesperson said.
Brady is already the NFL record-holder for most Super Bowl wins, Pro Bowl appearances, passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and division titles.
He’s also the only player to win the NFL MVP at age 40 or older.
At age 48, Brady still has enough interest in the game to inquire about what his situation might look like if he tried to play again. His 2023 retirement was his second one.
While it’s not the same as playing, Brady has embraced other pursuits such as buying a piece of the Raiders and securing a lucrative position broadcasting NFL games on Fox over the past few years.
“I’m a minority owner. So, when you’re that, there’s really no job description. I don’t have really a daily role,” Brady said. “You know, my phone call is always available to everybody who needs it.”
“I want to see everyone succeed, be their best, bring a winning kind of a culture to Las Vegas — to bring the Raiders back to glory. I’d love to be a part of it.”
Brady recently played in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles. The experience was enjoyable, but not anything that would lure him out of retirement at the moment, he said.
“I loved being out there in the flag game,” Brady said. “I loved not getting hit. I’ve got a lot of really fun things I’m involved in. It’s never doing to get old throwing passes to incredible athletics on the field, but if anything, that game reconfirmed to me that I’m very happy in my retirement.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
