Tom Brady: Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign ex-Patriots quarterback

Six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady has signed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leaving the New England Patriots.

The quarterback said on Tuesday that he is ending an unprecedented 20-year spell of success with the Patriots.

The 42-year-old then announced on Friday that he is joining Tampa Bay.

"Excited, humble and hungry," he said. "I'm starting a new football journey and thankful for the Buccaneers for giving me an opportunity to do what I love to do."

Brady became a free agent for the first time this off-season, allowing him to speak to rival teams from Monday before the free agency signing period opened on Wednesday.

He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time having won the Super Bowl more times than any other player - in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Brady has made a total of nine Super Bowl appearances and been named the championship game's Most Valuable Player (MVP) four times - both NFL records.

He was named as the league's MVP in 2007, 2010 and 2017, and is second on the all-time list for touchdown passes and passing yards behind New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

The Patriots had not won the Super Bowl before choosing Brady with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft but they now have a joint-record six Super Bowl victories - level with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bucs have only won the Super Bowl once in their 45 years in the NFL and are owned by the Glazer family, who also control Manchester United.

Their general manager Jason Licht was a member of the Patriots' scouting staff when Brady was drafted.

"Through this process it became very clear that his desire to be a champion burns as strong today as it ever has," he said. "He possesses the type of rare natural leadership qualities that will immediately impact our entire organisation."

Brady will replace Jameis Winston as the Bucs' starting quarterback, with Winston also becoming an unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old led the league last season with 5,109 passing yards and threw 33 touchdown passes but also 30 interceptions - becoming the first man to go 30 for 30 in the same season.

Brady's switch to Florida is the biggest move at the start of free agency, although Todd Gurley, the NFL's rushing touchdown leader in two of the past three seasons, has agreed terms with the Atlanta Falcons after being released by the Los Angeles Rams.

Analysis

Former NFL cornerback and BBC pundit Jason Bell

I see it as a great opportunity for Tom Brady and for us. Let's see if he can go somewhere else and be successful. I think it's a good fit, he's going to change the culture of that organisation.

It was down to two teams - the Los Angeles Chargers or the Buccaneers. I was leaning more towards the Chargers but the more I look at it, I see why he made this decision. He has great offensive weapons and receivers [at Tampa Bay]. That's one of the things he complained about [at New England], that's what he wants. Tampa Bay were a good offence already, one of the best in the NFL, without Tom Brady, so he must be looking at it thinking, 'wow, I can really light it up and do some good things with this group'.

On defence, they got better as the year went on and Brady knows the defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles well, he's played against him a lot. Brady must be thinking 'I've got a guy who's a great coach on defence, I know what I've got to do on offence and my head coach [Bruce Arians] is an offensive guy. This is great for me'.

Yes, he's getting better money. He wanted a good deal and he's got one, in a state where they don't have any state tax and that's warm - it's hard to be out there in the cold when you're getting older. But Tom Brady wants to win, let's never forget that. And this is a great situation for him to do it.

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143 comments

Incredible! Good for him though. At his age he can still compete, strategise and throw winners.

I'm a Redskins fan (for my sins), but I can respect Brady for his achievements. 199th pick, serial Superbowl winner & probably the Greatest of All Time, you couldn't make it up! 🏈
Brees vs Brady twice a year? Take my money
2 days late to the news but whatever. Was the obvious move for him to make as he wanted a better receiving corps, more protection and control over play-calling and the Bucs were the only team willing to give him all 3. They'll likely strengthen their O-line in the draft but have already made the team competitive by signing Brady, keeping Barrett, Evans & Godwin and binning Jameis "30-int" Winston
Tampa had two of the best wide receivers last season. Shame Winston was a hot and cold QB
Life has been brilliant since no football HYSs......and just when you've been lulled into a false sense of security... a MU forum pops up.
Brady seems to be a throw-back to a different era. Nowadays quarterbacks are more mobile, they frequently move out of the pocket and run with the ball; like the Ravens Lamar Jackson.
Why is he signing the contract in someone's kitchen ?
Tampa will now have a winning season for the first time in many a moon maybe even the playoffs.
Florid a is a very popular retirement destination
For those saying this is two days late, it isn’t. He has officially signed today.

The BBC, like other news outlets, reported earlier this week that he had agreed to sign . Now he has.

NFL.com has also just reported the signing as official.

Keep up people.

I’m delighted he has left the Pats, btw. Seemed they were going to pass the Steelers for the most Superbowl wins, not now
This is an example of a player with a great history wondering if the success was due to him or to the team he was with. Having made a pile of cash he is off to see if is his doing or not. He has achieved great things and now can afford to find out. I'ts rather like Joe Montana and Rice combination, would it work at the Chief's?. We can look that one up but it wasn't pretty.
This is a good move for TB - nice warm climate for his aching bones and muscles - nice pay-packet - will be nearer to his Man Utd supporting friends, the Glazers and Beckham is just down the road (a bit).

And he might get to play some gridiron on a few days too.

Seriously though - the Bucs could learn a lot from him and he can inspire them so win-win - let's see what the Pats can do now !!
be interesting to see how he fairs. surprised he stillwants to play at 42 but sportsman tend to say there is now substitute once they stop
Oh, AND #85 (David), BBC covers many minority things, across its huge range of TV & radio output, plus this terrific (bliss!!) ads-free website!! That's why it's a great national asset. For years it showed the One Man & His Dog that you quote (may still do for all I know), to an audience of . . .hundreds? Dozens? I hate Eastenders, not fussed re Strictly, but I don't bother moaning about them!
The Brady Bunchaneers
With the Tampa Bay's offensive line??

Think Tom could well be getting sacked a little more often than he's used to.
@25 a tight end is a receiver, hence the many receiving touchdowns thrown to tight ends...
Good to see a sport story where a 40 year plus player is still valued. From his record and interviews Brady comes a cross as very intelligent. I reckon Tampa have bought him as much for his coaching abilities as well as a player. Though as a player I doubt he would be as good as the best in the league now.
For #64 (big) and "why not badminton, more followers" - classy. And totally uninformed. NFL now plays 4 games a season here, sell out in seconds (Wembley stadium, or Spurs new one). Please DO list how many badminton tournaments get crowds of over 80K? Oh, and for anyone with "why on HYS" - it's actually a news item, happening now (NFL just in the equivalent of our 'transfer window').
111. Exiledsaint:

All sports are minority sports since no sport is played or watched by over 50% of the world.