Tom Brady’s dad’s biggest fear is coming true: ‘The kid won’t stop playing’

Tom Brady’s free agency might be a big concern for his dad, Tom Brady Sr, as the NFL legend prepares for yet another season.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms-up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Tom Brady’s free agency might be a big concern for his dad, Tom Brady Sr.

During an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams” show, Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter recalled a conversation he had with Tom Sr. prior to Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers in February 2021, and the quarterback’s father had an interesting outlook on his son’s playing future.

“The night before the game, I happen to meet up with Tom Brady’s dad and asked him what he thought about the game, the opportunity to win again,” Carter told host Kay Adams.

“He said the only thing he’s worried about is the kid, the kid won’t go home. He said ‘the kid is outside still playing, and he won’t come in. It’s raining, everything.’ He said, ‘I am only afraid the kid won’t stop playing even if he wins.‘”

Brady led the Buccaneers to a 31-9 win over the Chiefs in the 2021 Super Bowl in his first year with the team after 20 seasons with the Patriots.

Brady led the Buccaneers to a 31-9 win over the Chiefs in the 2021 Super Bowl in his first year with the team after 20 seasons with the Patriots.

“He won that game and he’s still playing,” Carter said. “So the dad told him, so it is a problem. The NFL is a drug, man, and there is no other office job, partnership, relationship, we got great players broadcasting, running teams — it’s nothing like the NFL… to hoist the [Vince] Lombardi [trophy] seven times, man, that’s a drug and he’s got it. He’s got it bad.”

Brady, who was 44 at the time, led the NFL in both passing yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43). This season, however, has been a struggle for the Buccaneers due to a slew of injuries, among other on-field mistakes that Brady has said he and his team need to address together.

“The kid is outside still playing, & he won’t come in. It’s raining. I am only afraid the kid won’t stop playing even if he wins”⁰⁰Cris Carter shares Tom Brady’s Sr.’s concerns about the GOAT’s ability to walk away from the game⁰⁰📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams | @criscarter80pic.twitter.com/DtUwkKObmp

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 12, 2022

The 45-year-old Brady will be a free agent in 2023, which means he’ll have to make a decision about his football future — to either return for a 24th season or retire for good.

According to NFL Network, Brady is leaving “all options on the table” for 2023 following his decision to un-retire in March.

If Brady were to continue playing, it’ll be interesting to see if would he stay with Tampa Bay or join another team. Whenever he does decide to call it a career, Brady will join Fox Sports as a lead NFL analyst on a monster $375 million contract he secured in May.

Brady has said that his focus is on his family and winning football games after announcing his divorce from his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen in October.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission