Although Tom Brady retired from the NFL (for a second time) in February, the league can’t seem to let go of the GOAT. Brady surprisingly hung up his cleats in 2021 only to unretire several weeks later, so there is a template in place for the future Hall of Famer to return to NFL life — and at least one member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to think Brady could still come back.

Antoine Winfield Jr. on Tom Brady Return: ‘Anything’s Possible’

Appearing on The Richard Sherman Podcast this week, Bucs defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. said he thinks Tampa Bay is still trying to convince Brady to unretire.

“I’m sure we’re still reaching out to him, trying to see if he’s willing to come back to the team,” Winfield said. “Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible.”

Sherman, who lost to Brady in Super Bowl 49, seemed to agree, saying, “Look, I don’t put nothing past [Brady]. This is a crazy world, and he a crazy guy.” Winfield replied, “It’s up in the air, man.”

Clearly, Winfield doesn’t speak for the Buccaneers’ organization or the club’s front office and isn’t involved in the team’s personnel matters. But it’s nevertheless interesting to hear an active Tampa Bay player seemingly pine for Brady’s return, especially given the state of the Buccaneers’ quarterback room.

Baker Mayfield, who inked a one-year, $4 million deal over the offseason, is poised to compete with former second-round pick Kyle Trask for Tampa Bay’s starting job. Brady, who showed some signs of physical decline but still led the league in passing attempts at 45 years old, would obviously represent an upgrade.

However, Brady has already moved on from his playing days by agreeing to buy a minority stake in the Raiders, which would complicate any potential return to the field. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported Friday that Brady’s deal to become a limited partner with the Raiders will not be finalized when NFL owners convene next week, but there’s been no indication that Brady will not ultimately reach an agreement.

Tom Brady Has Repeatedly Denied He’ll Attempt an NFL Comeback

Even if Brady’s deal with the Raiders didn’t throw a wrench in any theoretical comeback attempts, we should probably take Brady at his word when he says he isn’t returning to life as an NFL player.

When Brady posted his retirement video in February, he was relatively adamant that his career was over.

“I’m retiring … for good,” Brady said. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. So, I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year.”

In June, Brady was even more definitive about his retirement when speaking to Robin Lundberg of Sports Illustrated.

“I’m certain I’m not playing again, so I’ve tried to make that clear, and I hate to continue to profess that ’cause I’ve already told people that lots of times,” Brady said. “But I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at FOX next year.

“‘I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders, and we’re in the process of that, along with the other different things that I’m a part of professionally and in my personal life, just spending as much time with my kids as I can and seeing them grow up and support the different things that they have going on, and that’s a very important job, and I take them all pretty seriously.”

Why Did Tom Brady Retire From the NFL?

Brady’s personal life likely played a role in his retirement. Brady went through a divorce with Gisele Bündchen during the 2022 campaign, which surely caused a strain within his family. And Brady’s father has indicated his son sought more balance in his life after an NFL career that had stretched past two decades.

But Brady was also one of the oldest NFL players in league history. Aside from a handful of placekickers and George Blanda (who was overwhelmingly used as a kicker during his latter NFL campaigns), no player stayed in the league as long as Brady.

By the end of the 2022 season, Brady appeared tired of getting hit and was consistently getting rid of the ball exceptionally quickly. After the Bucs struggled during the regular season, barely snuck into the playoffs, and were quickly dispatched by the Cowboys, Brady ultimately decided it was time to call it a career.

How Many Super Bowls Does Tom Brady Have?

Brady has seven Super Bowl titles under his belt. He holds the record for most Super Bowl wins in NFL history and has the most Super Bowl appearances. Super Bowl 55 represented the 10th time Brady had played for the Lombardi.

No other NFL player is even close to Brady in terms of Super Bowl appearances. Brady’s former teammate in New England, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, played in six Super Bowls alongside him. Former Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos defensive tackle Mike Lodish also took part in six Super Bowls. The only other quarterback who comes anywhere near Brady’s record is John Elway, who has half the number of appearances.

When he took his first snap in Super Bowl 55, Brady joined an exclusive club of NFL signal-callers to start Super Bowls for multiple teams. Only Peyton Manning (Colts and Broncos), Craig Morton (Cowboys and Broncos), and Kurt Warner (Rams and Cardinals) had managed that feat before Brady. Manning was the only QB to lift the Lombardi Trophy for two different clubs before Brady’s victory.

*[NFL]: National Football League