Bruce Arians shuts down possibility of Tom Brady returning to football

Tom Brady decided to end what was a historic career at the end of the 2022 season after spending 22 seasons with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After winning seven Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl MVPs, and being selected to an All-Pro team six different times, Brady will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it.

Even with the announced retirement, rumors have already begun to swirl that Brady is going to return next season. Whether he would remain with Tampa Bay or try to find his way to another franchise, the idea of Brady taking another snap is not completely dead.

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians discussed the possibility on Tuesday. When asked if he would help Brady find another team if he wanted to return to football, Arians gave a pretty blunt and honest answer.

“Nope,” Arians said via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Bad business.”

If Brady did decide to come back and play next season, he would have to work with the Buccaneers, assuming he wanted to leave Tampa Bay. Based on that quote, Arians has no desire to make that happen, which could lead to Brady staying retired.

Bruce Ariand denies poor relationship with Tom Brady

Shortly after Brady announced his retirement, Arians took to the media to lash out on that report. The head coach denied that his relationship with Brady had taken a turn for the worst. He confirmed that he believed Brady will stay retired, rather than make an NFL return, and he said that ever since Brady’s retirement, several false stories have emerged about his situation.

“It seems like there’s one (story) every day now,’’ Arians said. “Everybody is speculating he’s going somewhere else. That don’t bother me. This other bulls—, the relationship thing, that’s so far-fetched.’’

Arians doubled down on Brady’s retirement, too, following speculation that Brady might make his way back to the NFL.

“That would shock me,’’ Arians said, when asked if he thought there was a chance Brady comes back. “And he let us know in time to do the free agency like we’ve done in the past, that’s why I don’t see it happening.’’

The rumor about his relationship with Brady stemmed from a tweet from former NFL player Rich Ohrnberger.

“Apparently, while Arians was rehabbing the Achilles (tendon) in the early mornings, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Brady would work on the week’s game plan,’’ Ohrnberger tweeted. “Arians would later come in and take the red pen to work they’d done. The QB and OC felt undermined, there was tension.’’