Tom Brady would be ‘welcomed back with open arms’ by Patriots

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New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski has told Tom Brady that he’d be welcomed back to the team with open arms should he choose to rejoin in 2023.The 45-year-old quarterback is set to become a free agent after this season and could be tempted to return to New England, who may be looking for a new signal-caller with Mac Jones struggling.

Brady left the Pats in 2020 after 20 seasons to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in his first season alongside Gronkowski who also joined the team out of retirement.

Retirement could very well be in the pathway for Brady too, who did officially hang up his boots earlier this year, announcing his retirement from the sport before dramatically u-turning and rejoining the Buccaneers for his 23rd season just 40 days later.

But after a disappointing season so far, with Tampa Bay unlikely to make a major run in the post-season, Brady will have a big decision to make on his future – whether that lies in or out of playing football, or his commentary job he’s set to walk in to. Brady has already agreed a 10-year, $375 million job with FOX Sports to become a commentator once he retires, but it is unclear whether that will be after this season. 

Whilst the Buccaneers will certainly want him to return, it’s also been rumoured that the San Francisco 49ers could make a run at signing him, after they had been interested in 2020 when he left New England. And the Patriots have also been linked with a shock return for him, and Gronkowski has been asked on whether he thinks it would be a good move for him.

Speaking to FOX, Gronkowski said: “I’ve talked to him a little bit. We’re just friends, we just love to talk and chat about things going on in life and all that stuff. I’m leaving his football troubles, I left them so I don’t have any football troubles. I’m leaving him all on his own.”

Whether he thinks New England would be a good fit for Brady, Gronkowski added: “I mean, if Tom really wanted to, I’m sure that it would be all open arms to go back to New England. I would just have to say all parties would need to want it. 

“But he has the opportunity to go wherever he would love to go. It’s Tom Brady. If he wanted to go back home to the San Francisco 49ers, I’m sure that would be open. If he wanted to go back home to the Patriots, I’m sure those doors would be open. If he 100% wants to stay in Tampa Bay, those doors would be wide open. It’s all on him.”

Whilst his team has struggled, and Brady himself hasn’t played at the elite level he’s capable of, it’s more than fair to say he could return to that level next year if he’s put in a better situation.

The Niners might be the best landing spot for him from a football perspective, having a dominant offensive line and elite receiving and running weapons, but the allure of returning to the Patriots for one more go around could cement his status as one of Boston’s greatest sportsman, along with being the greatest NFL player of all-time.

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