Tom Brady 'remains noncommittal’ about playing in 2022; Bruce Arians remains hopeful

Tom Brady’s season is nowhere near over, with the Buccaneers trying to advance to the NFC Championship game with a win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Watch the live-text coverage at AS USA. 

Timing couldn’t be worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are genuinely concerned with Brady’s possible retirement, again. According to NFL reports, Brady “remains noncommittal” to playing beyond this season. Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington of ESPN reported that the possibility of the 45-year-old quarterback playing in 2022 is “currently far from a given.”

While these discussions have been murmuring around the league for a few weeks, the current playoff run will have a factor on Brady’s decision, as per the report. 

Not to mention that when Brady initially signed the two-year, $50 million contract with the Bucs in 2020, he agreed to a one-year contract extension after winning his seventh Super Bowl.

Bruce Arians optimistic Brady will stay past 2022 season

Earlier this season, Brady shared that he’ll most certainly play through 2022. “I felt for a long time I could play until I was 45 years old,” Brady said. “This year, I’ll be 44. Which naturally takes me to next year, and I’ve got a two-year contract. We’ll see what happens beyond that.”

Then earlier this month, Brady shared that he wants to be with the Bucs “for many years." That’s why this information comes as surprising not just to fans, but also to his coach.

Bruce Arians said Friday that he would be “shocked” if Brady didn’t return.

"The way he was at practice, I would be shocked if he didn’t (play next year)," Arians said. "You know they have that Friday quarterback challenge, and he came flying out of the locker room, sprinting two or three fields away and couldn’t wait to get into the challenge. He was like a little kid. I would be shocked."