Tom Brady's sudden return to the NFL almost guarantees he'll get what he once called 'distracting'
- Tom Brady announced he was coming out of retirement to play the 2022 NFL season.
- Brady will almost surely be treated to a "farewell" tour, something he once called "distracting."
Tom Brady is returning to the NFL less than two months after saying he was retiring from it.
The 44-year-old quarterback announced on Sunday that he realized it wasn't time for him to step away and would return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play a 23rd NFL season.
Brady's sudden return almost ensures that he will get something he recently called "distracting" — a farewell tour.
Last year, despite being the oldest starting quarterback in the NFL, there was no farewell tour because few believed Brady was retiring. After all, the seven-time Super Bowl champion led the NFL in passing yards and was an MVP candidate. Brady had stated his goal to play into his mid-40s and showed no signs of slowing down.
But now that Brady opened the door for retirement — even if just for a few weeks — NFL fans across the country will almost surely be treating the upcoming campaign as his final season. Tickets to Bucs games will likely be one of the hottest items in sports.
In January, while speaking on his "Let's Go" podcast, Brady said he wouldn't enjoy a farewell tour.
"I think that would be distracting for me," Brady said. "My enjoyment comes from not a recognition of what I've accomplished as a player in the league. My enjoyment comes from competition."
While players like Derek Jeter and Dwyane Wade received farewell tours, they had announced their plans to only play one more season.
Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki was treated to a farewell tour in 2019, despite never actually saying he was going to retire. Nowitzki, then 41, had slowed down considerably and was nearing the end of his contract, so it was logical to conclude it was his final season. He even joked about the fans' influence on his career choices.
"They're making the decision for me, I guess," Nowitzki had said. "We'll see what the rest of the season brings, but it's been great. I mean, really emotional in some of these buildings. The reception from the fans has been incredible."
Brady will likely receive the same, whether he wants it or not. Even if he intends to play in the 2023 season, the cycle will just repeat as fans will anticipate that as his last season.
Brady had said in January that he would retire if he felt he couldn't give a team his full commitment.
"Every year I just have to make sure that I have the ability to commit to what the team really needs," he said. "That's important to me. The team doesn't deserve anything less than my best, and I feel like I'm not committed to that or I can't play at a championship level then you've got to give someone else the chance to play."
Brady, then, clearly feels he can still compete at a high level. But that likely won't stop fans and opposing teams from showering him with respect and admiration over his remarkable career.