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Tom Brady shouted at him from the podium with the Lombardi Trophy in his hands, “Yes, we’re coming back.” Moments later, he reiterated the message to CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson, adding, “Better believe it.”
Of course, it’s a long time between February 7, 2021 and the start of September when the Super Bowl 55 champion Buccaneers open the next NFL season. But as early as Super Bowl night, Brady, 43, gave no sign of thinking he won’t be suitable for his second season with Tampa Bay.
MORE: Tom Brady Adds Fifth Super Bowl MVP To Trophy Case
Brady won Super Bowl MVP honors in his first season with the Buccaneers, completing 21 of 29 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Chiefs, 31-9. Tampa Bay lost to Kansas City in Week 12, falling to 7-5 this season. Brady and the Bucs didn’t lose from there, ending the season with eight straight wins.
All along, things have pointed to a return of Brady for the 2021 season, which he will play at 44. He signed a two-year contract by joining the Buccaneers with the money evenly split between 2020 and 2021. There were also a few reports throughout the season that indicated Brady would be back.
But it’s a whole different thing for Brady to publicly confirm it. Players and coaches have in the past been pressured to run away at sunset after a championship win. Not Brady – he wants more.
He won’t be alone in 2021. Rob Gronkowski, who caught two touchdowns on Sunday, has previously said he will return if Brady returns. Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said after the Super Bowl he will also be looking to coach another Super Bowl team next season.
Even wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is an impending free agent, could see the franchise tag and stay in town with Brady for another year, according to Ian Rappoport of NFL Network. Depending on what’s going on with free agents Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette, Brady could get most of the squad together for another go-around.
Brady threw 40 touchdowns, a franchise record and the second best score of his career, in his debut season at Tampa Bay, and he topped it off with a Super Bowl victory. The motto of chefs in 2020 was “Run it back”. That’s what Brady will be attempting to do next season after blocking Kansas City from doing just that.
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