Tom Brady’s return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night created an immediate seismic shift in NFL futures odds.
The Bucs, who were a consensus +1000 bet to win Super Bowl LVII before Brady retired six weeks ago, vaulted from longshots to back among the favorites to win their second title in three seasons.
Tampa Bay is now a consensus +750 among the biggest regulated sportsbooks in the United States. That’s behind the Buffalo Bills (+725), even with the Kansas City Chiefs and ahead of the Green Bay Packers (+800), according to TheLines.com.
FanDuel told Field Level Media that within an hour of the breaking news of Brady’s return, he received 64 percent of the bets to win NFL Most Valuable Player honors next season. At +850, he is behind fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, who are both +600, along with the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (+800).
Brady’s MVP odds are now +1000 at Colorado-based MaximBet, also behind Allen (+700), Mahomes (+800) and Rodgers (+900).
In addition to shortening the Bucs’ Super Bowl odds from +1900 to +700 and their NFC Championship odds from +1000 to +350, PointsBet told Field Level Media the sportsbook installed Brady’s Over/Under touchdowns market at 35.5 while his Over/Under passing yards market is 4,549.5.
“We are thrilled that Tom has decided to come back this season,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said in a statement Sunday night. “We said we would leave all options open for him should he reconsider his retirement and today’s announcement is something we have been preparing for in recent days.
“(Coach) Bruce (Arians) and I have had plenty of conversations with Tom recently that led us to believe there was a realistic chance he would want to come back. Tom is the greatest quarterback of all time who is still playing at an elite level. With this decision now made, we will continue to move forward with our offseason plans to reload this roster for another championship run.”
That followed Brady’s social media post that said his place “is still on the field.”
“These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now,” Brady wrote.
“I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd (NFL) season in Tampa.”
These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG pic.twitter.com/U0yhRKVKVm
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 13, 2022
Brady announced his retirement on Feb. 1. Just a week later, the seven-time Super Bowl champion said “never say never” about playing again.
Arians said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the “door was never closed” on a Brady return, and “whenever Tom wants back, he’s back.”
Tampa Bay restructured defensive tackle Vita Vea’s contract Saturday to create $7.64 million in cap space, perhaps with an eye toward bringing Brady back.
Brady, at 44, led the NFL in passing attempts (719), completions (485), yards (5,316) and touchdown passes (43) in 2021 with the Buccaneers.
Consensus Super Bowl LVII Odds
(Opening odds from Feb. 13)
–Buffalo Bills (+725), +725
–Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2500), +750
–Kansas City Chiefs (+725), +800
–Green Bay Packers (+1400), +800
–Los Angeles Rams (+800), +1000
–San Francisco 49ers (+1100), +1300
–Denver Broncos (+2250), +1400
–Dallas Cowboys (+1450), +1500
–Cincinnati Bengals (+1400), +2000
–Baltimore Ravens (+2100), +2000
–Los Angeles Chargers (+2150), +2000
–Tennessee Titans (+2100), +2200
–Arizona Cardinals (+2250), +2500
–New England Patriots (+2500), +3000
–Indianapolis Colts (+2500), +3000
–Cleveland Browns (+3500), +3300
–Minnesota Vikings (+3150), +4000
–Philadelphia Eagles (+3500), +4000
–New Orleans Saints (+3750), +4000
–Miami Dolphins (+4500), +4500
–Pittsburgh Steelers (+5500), +5000
–Washington Commanders (+5500), +5000
–Carolina Panthers (+5500), +5000
–Las Vegas Raiders (+3500), +5500
–Seattle Seahawks (+3500), +6000
–Atlanta Falcons (+5500), +6500
–Chicago Bears (+7750), +8000
–NY Giants (+9000), +8000
–Jacksonville Jaguars (+10000), +10000
–Detroit Lions (+12500), +12500
–New York Jets (+15000), +15000
–Houston Texans (+20000), +15000
–Field Level Media