Jason Burgos
Earlier this week, future Hall of Famer and New England Patriots icon Tom Brady revealed in an interview with CNBC that he had seriously considered a return to the field recently. However, the 15-time Pro Bowler also divulged that the NFL “didn’t like that idea very much.”
It wasn’t because they wouldn’t want to see the 48-year-old make a grand return to the NFL. It was because he was looking to do so and hold on to his minority ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders. Which is a big no-no. Nevertheless, he clearly has the itch to play, and it’s likely why he was behind forming the Fanatics Flag Football Classic this year.
But for a man who likely ruined his marriage to play one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that may not be enough. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio added to that idea on Sunday. “There’s still an itch. He can still play. He’d be better right now than some of the players who are slated to start in 2026,” he wrote.
“Will the itch go away? Probably. If not, selling his share back to Mark Davis could be an easy off-ramp from a situation in which his role doesn’t seem to match the franchise’s expectations.”
In the outside chance that Tom Brady surprisingly gave up his stake in the Raiders for one more season in the league, let’s look at five teams he would be open to playing for.
Las Vegas Raiders
Obviously, the most likely choice would be to suit up for the team he brought a stake in. There were rumblings several years ago about Las Vegas being the landing spot when he left New England, and he clearly has a bond with majority owner Mark Davis. While the Raiders are nowhere close to a title contender, Brady would have an unheard-of amount of power as their starting QB.
For the franchise, it would be a dream scenario. They get a year of, arguably, the greatest QB ever, and have projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza get to learn from him for a season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a playoff contender, but they haven’t had a true Pro Bowl-level QB since the days of Ben Roethlisberger. It’s why they have taken flyers on Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers over the last two years. There is a real chance Brady could perform worse than the two future Hall of Famers did. Or, he could be better, and that might be enough to get Pittsburgh to the AFC Championship.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have a mess at the QB1 spot. Daniel Jones was great for much of the 2025 season before he broke a bone in his leg and then tore his Achilles. They are now forced to hope he can return sooner than expected because they weren’t able to get a better player in free agency or the draft. However, Brady could be that if he were available.
The Colts looked like a Super Bowl contender before Jones got hurt. And Philip Rivers walked in off the street at 44 and looked good at times because of the weapons they have. Brady at 48 might be able to help Indy get to the playoffs and make a deep run.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers also have a very iffy situation at the QB1 spot because this is a make-or-break year for former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. However, if Tom Brady were available, Carolina would jump at the chance and give him all sorts of influence if it helped them win a couple of games in the playoffs next year.
Atlanta Falcons
Despite having a messy QB situation in 2025, the Atlanta Falcons still went 8-9. The same record as the division champion Panthers. With weapons like Bijan Robinson and Drake London, adding Brady to the mix might be enough to get them to 10 wins and homefield in a playoff game. Furthermore, whenever Michael Penix Jr. returns, he can also sit and learn a thing or two from the NFL legend.
