World reacts as Tom Brady announces stunning NFL comeback

Tom Brady has stunned everyone by announcing a shock comeback to the NFL less than two months after retiring.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady said he has changed his mind about retirement and will return to the NFL next season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady won six titles in 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, moved to the Bucs in 2020 and led them to a championship. But Tampa Bay lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs and he announced his retirement in January.

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Now superstar quarterback Brady, who turns 45 in August, says he wants at least one more chance at a championship.

“These past two months I have realised my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” Brady said on social media. “That time will come. But it’s not now.

“I love my teammates and I love my supportive family. Without them, none of this is possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. We have unfinished business.”

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

There is no doubt Brady can continue to dominate as the ageless wonder led the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdowns in 2022, finishing second in MVP voting.

Brady sent NFL fans into overdrive earlier in the day when he shared a moment with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo asked Brady: “You’re finished, right?” The NFL GOAT replied: “Probably”.

However, a grimace and smirk had fans believing Brady would quickly return to the NFL.

Tom Brady has a video on his Instagram story of him talking to Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano: “You’re finished, right?”

The face Brady makes in response.... pic.twitter.com/qJq7QSjSXP

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 13, 2022

The news also came just hours after the ball thrown for Brady’s last touchdown sold at auction for $US518,000 ($A710,000).

It was far from the first time Brady had teased the comeback.

Asked a week after his retirement if a comeback would be possible, he told the Let’s Go! Podcast with Jim Gray: “I’m just gonna take things as they come. I think that’s the best way to put it and I don’t think anything, you know, you never say never. At the same time I know that I’m very, I feel very good about my decision. I don’t know how I’ll feel six months from now.”

Tom Brady is back, baby. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The reaction to Brady’s return was swift.

USA Today’s Celina Tebor tweeted: “Tom Brady’s retirement was shorter than Kim Kardashian’s marriage with Kris Humphries lol.”

Actor Jeff Cannata wrote: “Tom Brady realized quickly what spending more time with your family is really like.”

Aviation writer Paul Thompson said: “What’s with Tom Brady? The guy’s married to a supermodel and doesn’t want to stay home.”

Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Todd Dewey added: “Bad beat today for person who just paid $518K for ball from Brady’s ‘final’ TD pass.”

Tom Brady coming out of retirement pic.twitter.com/K2HtYVM4PY

— Sanny Rudravajhala (@SannyR1985) March 14, 2022

However, it was believed that if Brady did come back, it would be for the San Francisco 49ers, the team he supported when he was growing up as a child in California.

“There is reason to believe Trey Lance isn’t ready. There is reason to believe the team is ready to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said. “There is reason to believe that Brady, who presumably has nothing left to accomplish, would like to chase Super Bowl win No. 8 while playing for the team he grew up following.”

After an unlikely rise to stardom, as a sixth-round pick (199th overall) of the Patriots in 2000, Brady remained incredibly durable throughout his career.

Since taking over for the injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and never losing the starting quarterback job again, Brady started 316 games out of a possible 335.

While everyone thought Brady waved goodbye to play-calling for good when he called it quits six weeks ago, clearly he has more to give.

With AFP

Originally published as World reacts as Tom Brady announces stunning NFL comeback