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Tom Brady’s retirement from the NFL sure came at a sudden. Speculation regarding Brady's future in the league only ramped up in the days leading up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ NFC divisional round clash against the Los Angeles Rams. In the end, he opted to officially call it a career last week.
Brady’s decision to hang up his cleats did not come as much of a surprise to Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. As he noted to ProFootballTalk on Thursday, one interaction with the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback during the season made him ponder on whether this would be the passer’s last campaign in the NFL.
“We were at a walkthrough practice that he didn't participate in,” Evans said. “And I just asked him when I saw him. I said, ‘Big bro, what you thinking about doing after this year?' He was like ‘Honestly bro I don't know.'
“And I just looked into his eyes and said this is probably could be it.”
Brady noted following the Buccaneers’ playoff loss to the Rams that he would talk it over with his family on whether he should return for the 2022 campaign. Overall, his teammates had no clue on what he was going to decide on. Even as Buccaneers players like Evans publicly noted that they would much prefer to see Brady return next season, his playing days are now over.
In the big picture, Evans is much honored that he got the chance to play alongside Brady.
“I'm just appreciative that I got to play with him for two seasons,” Evans said.
A crucial offseason now awaits the Buccaneers as they will aim to find Brady’s successor at the quarterback position.
