49ers GM John Lynch doesn't slam door on signing Tom Brady

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch could've slammed the door shut on reaching out to Tom Brady this offseason. Lynch went in a different direction. 

"I sent him a text when he retired," Lynch responded to a question about Brady at the NFL combine on Tuesday, per Chris Mason of MassLive. "He was a teammate for about three weeks at one point. So I sent him a text just congratulations on one of the greatest careers that I’ve ever seen in any sport. I wished him the best. So we’ll leave it at that." 

Lynch briefly spent time as Brady's teammate with the New England Patriots in the summer of 2008. 

Additionally, Lynch said Tuesday that he hopes 2022 rookie quarterback Brock Purdy can have surgery next week to address the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Lynch also confirmed the 49ers' relationship with Jimmy Garoppolo has "probably run its course." 

Brady retired for a second time on Feb. 1 but will see his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expire when the new league year opens on March 15. The 45-year-old was repeatedly linked with a potential move to San Francisco before his latest retirement, as he grew up a fan of the team in nearby San Mateo, where his parents still live. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and fellow NFL insider Michael Silver have both said over the past week they believe the 49ers could contact Brady about starting over unproven 22-year-old Trey Lance as Purdy recovers from a procedure that could sideline him for an entire year. For a piece published on Monday, one "rival executive" told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer that he'd "think about" calling Brady if he worked for the 49ers. 

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested this past December he regretted not signing Brady in March 2020. Shanahan's club has played in back-to-back NFC Championship Games without Brady but could be a G.O.A.T. signal-caller away from returning to the Super Bowl. 

People such as Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht continue to say they think Brady is serious about staying retired this time around. Unless Brady silences rumors about his future with a simple statement, his name will continue to be mentioned by reporters and league executives throughout the spring and summer months.