Whether Tom Brady is re-signed by the New England Patriots or not, the future Hall of Famer clearly still wants to keep playing in 2020.
Speaking to Peter King of NBC Sports on Saturday night after the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs by Tennessee, Brady opened up slightly about his mindset going forward, hinting he’ll be open to sign with another team if the Patriots don’t bring him back.
“I’ll explore those opportunities whenever they are,” Brady told King late Saturday night, via King’s “Football Morning in America” column Monday. “If it’s the Patriots, great. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know. I just don’t know. I love playing football. I still want to play football. I think I still can play at a championship level. I’ve just got to go do it. I’m motivated to get back to work and training.”
Brady also made it clear that his passion for the game hasn’t waned one iota.
“I absolutely still do love this game,” Brady told King. ” … I think a lot of other people who are great at what they do—great artists or great actors or great businessmen—they don’t have to stop what they love as they get older. I know there’s football still in here.”
Even though Brady clearly is on a slight decline, you have to imagine he’d be a top priority for some quarterback-needy teams. Playing with a depleted group of receivers this past season, he still managed to pass for 4,957 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2019.
One team is reportedly already considering ditching its current quarterback to make a play for Brady in 2020. Meanwhile, Patriots owner Robert Kraft is hoping and praying Brady either retires or is back with the Pats. Given Brady’s comments in the past about playing into his mid-40s, that may be wishful thinking.