Tom Brady Takes 41 Days to Make Decision Everyone Saw Coming

Michael Jordan and Mario Lemieux did it. So did Andy Pettitte. And Rob Gronkowski did it as well — which might well be the most relevant example here. In this case, we’re talking about returning to a sport after formally retiring from it. This high-profile club just got a new member: after announcing his retirement from professional football earlier this year, Tom Brady has chosen to retire from being retired and will return to the NFL next season.

Despite speculation that he might opt to join the San Francisco 49ers, Brady plans to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady’s return to the NFL is — how best to phrase this? — not exactly a shock, and has been predicted since shortly after he announced he would be stepping away from the sport.

The quarterback made the announcement on social media. “These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now,” Brady wrote. “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. Unfinished business LFG.”

It begs the question: was the tipping point something Brady saw while he watched the Manchester United/Tottenham Hotspur game yesterday? And if so — what was it?

Meet your guide

Tobias Carroll

Tobias Carroll lives and writes in New York City, and has been covering a wide variety of subjects — including (but not limited to) books, soccer and drinks — for many years. His writing has been published by the likes of the Los Angeles Times, Pitchfork, Literary Hub, Vulture, Punch, the New York Times and Men’s Journal. At InsideHook, he has…

More from Tobias Carroll »

More Like This

Sports

Tom Brady Just Won the Fanatics Games

Sports

Brady Roast Offers More Proof Belichick-Kraft Relationship Is Burned

Sports

Report: Tom Brady Paid for Successful Plays in Tampa Bay

Sports

Tom Brady, It’s Enough Already