Tom Brady, the retired NFL legend, made waves on Thursday by posting a workout video on his Instagram story, sparking speculation about a potential return to the NFL at the age of 46. This marks his third hint suggesting a comeback within the span of a week, following a period where he did not participate in the league for the first time since 2000.
Brady has previously retired twice from the NFL, first in February 2022 and then again in February 2023. However, unlike his previous retirements, this hiatus from football has lasted over 14 months. Notably, the filing of retirement papers to the NFL and NFLPA occurred nine days after his second retirement.
In the video, Brady can be seen shirtless, displaying a commendable level of fitness as he runs at a decent pace, reminiscent of his playing days. However, it’s worth noting that he wasn’t wearing any pads or helmet during the workout.
Speculation about Brady’s potential return gained momentum on April 11, when he expressed openness to entertaining offers from NFL teams during an episode of ‘DeepCut’. A week prior, Brady dropped another retirement hint on X, suggesting he would reconsider if his post received 50k likes.
With the New England Patriots currently seeking a new franchise quarterback following the trade of Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, there’s speculation that Brady’s former team could consider him as an option. Jerod Mayo, a former teammate of Brady’s and the current head coach of the Patriots, might be inclined to look to the past for a solution.
In addition to the workout video, Brady posted a motivational message alongside the phrase “No bull. No excuses. Show up for yourself so you can show up all damn day.” The post also included three clock emojis and the phrase “24 years later,” referencing the time elapsed since his NFL debut.
It’s worth noting that in 2022, Brady signed a lucrative 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX Sports to become the network’s top color commentator, a role slated to commence in the upcoming fall.