Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed on a contract extension after winning Super Bowl LV. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the sides agreed on a four-year extension that voids to a one-year extension, locking Brady in through the 2022 season.
There had been rumblings that Brady would get an extension this offseason. Not only does this deal give the 43-year-old an extra year, but it will create cap room to help re-sign key free agents:
Not only do the Buccaneers lock in the 🐐 for yet another season, but this extension will create cap space for Tampa Bay that will be integral in working to re-sign key free agents like Shaq Barrett, Gronk and Antonio Brown.
A win-win. https://t.co/apOSgZwszg
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 12, 2021
The Tom-Brady extension saves the Buccaneers $19 million against the cap this year, per sources. The additional voidable years are there to defray the cost. It was another effort from Brady to keep as much of the team together as possible. https://t.co/65qAGO5Px7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2021
After 20 seasons and six Super Bowl wins with the New England Patriots, Tom Brady left Bill Belichick and headed down south to Tampa Bay. While many questioned whether he had anything left in the tank, the legendary quarterback put those questions to rest, even through there were some bumps in the road.
After dropping to 7-5 through 12 games, the Buccaneers didn't lose the rest of the season, winning their final four regular-season games and then romping through the playoffs. Brady beat three legends in Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes en route to Super Bowl No. 7, cementing himself as the GOAT.
Brady threw for 4,633 yards on 65.7% passing in 16 regular-season starts. The ageless wonder tossed 40 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 102.2. His performance dipped slightly in the playoffs, but he still did enough to lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, though their dominant defense also deserves a lot of credit.
Tom Brady knows this, which is why he's helping create that extra cap room to bring back key pieces on that defense. Lavonte David already got a new contract, and now Tampa Bay will try to work out a deal with Shaq Barrett, among others.
It's also safe to assume that Rob Gronkowski will be back as the Buccaneers try to repeat as champions.