For 40 days, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must have felt like they were in the dark ages.
There was no certainty on what their future would look like, especially at quarterback.
It seemed like there would be an exodus of talent from the Super Bowl LV champions because they don’t have a leader under center.
But things quickly changed when Tom Brady announced that he will be returning for his 23rd NFL season.
Tampa Bay now looks like a top destination for free agents, especially for those whose contracts with the team will expire once the 2022 league year starts.
Though he is approaching 45 years old, Brady gives the team a chance to reach the postseason and possibly contend for a Super Bowl spot.
After all, he hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2013, as ESPN’s Field Yates took note.
Tom Brady last's nine seasons:
2013: Lose playoff game
2014: Win Super Bowl
2015: Lose playoff game
2016: Win Super Bowl
2017: Lose playoff game
2018: Win Super Bowl
2019: Lose playoff game
2020: Win Super Bowl
2021: Lose playoff game2022: ???
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2022
Yates tweeted that Brady participated in the last nine NFL postseasons for two different teams.
During those years, he played in the Super Bowl for the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 seasons, winning all of those games.
Could the trend continue in 2022?
If that’s the case, the Buccaneers are favored to enter the playoffs in 2022 once again and potentially win it all.
It will be the third straight year that Tampa Bay will participate in the postseason and Brady still has what it takes to lead them there.
After all, he finished the 2021 regular season with 5,316 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Brady Can Still Play Beyond 2022
As part of his promotion for the TB12 Method, Brady declared that he wanted to play football until he was 45 years old.
If he will follow his goal, then he would stop playing after next season.
However, he doesn’t manifest any signs of slowing down and he seems to be playing at a higher level.
Playing longer might be to the detriment of his health, but could it be that he would like to chase George Blanda who played until he was 48 years old?
Only Brady knows when to stop, but he’s not even sure when that day will come.
NEXT: Fellow Buccaneers Star Not Returning Like Tom Brady
