Insider hints Buccaneers' Tom Brady won't retire after 2022 season

ESPN's Bill Barnwell is the latest noteworthy person to suggest Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will play beyond this season. 

"I strongly suspect he doesn't want his final image as an NFL quarterback to be at the helm of an eight- or nine-win Buccaneers team," Barnwell said of Brady for a piece published Thursday. "As a pending free agent, though, what will he show over the rest of the season to convince teams to move forward with a 46-year-old quarterback?" 

Brady and the Buccaneers ended a three-game losing streak via this past Sunday's 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams and sit atop the NFC South standings thanks to a tiebreaker advantage. 4-5 Tampa Bay faces the 6-3 Seattle Seahawks in Munich, Germany, this Sunday.

"The offensive line is a mess, the running game is nonexistent and the problems with drops and miscommunication in the passing game seem to be a weekly concern," Barnwell said of the Buccaneers. "Brady looks fine, but the offense does not." 

ESPN stats show Brady began Thursday second in the NFL with 2,547 passing yards on the season. He's 16th with a 51.4 total QBR and has 10 touchdown passes with only one interception in nine contests. 

Brady has appeared so frustrated featuring for the Buccaneers this season that his daughter has asked him not to scowl so much during games. The 45-year-old recently said that Tampa Bay's "effort level" on gamedays has been "embarrassing" throughout the campaign. 

Brady may have a couple of options if he wishes to sign elsewhere as a free agent when the new NFL year opens in March 2023. Just last week, he was linked with the San Francisco 49ers, and Mark Daniels of Mass Live couldn't help but notice that Brady and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick have spoken fondly of each other as of late.