Insider revives rumor about Tom Brady, 49ers

Perhaps Tom Brady hasn't thrown his final pass in a meaningful NFL game, after all. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio speculated on Thursday that the San Francisco 49ers could kick the tires on trying to convince Brady to end his latest "for good" retirement. Florio pointed out that 2022 rookie sensation Brock Purdy will likely miss at least the start of next season after his surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow was postponed until March. 

Additionally, there remain questions about how unproven commodity Trey Lance will recover from the season-ending ankle injury he suffered this past September and also about how Lance will deal with supposed arm fatigue issues that impacted him last offseason. 

The 49ers have essentially confirmed they're letting veteran Jimmy Garoppolo hit free agency next month. 

Florio has an impressive track record as it pertains to Brady. The PFT guru correctly reported last winter about the Miami Dolphins' attempts to pair the seven-time Super Bowl champion with Sean Payton, and Florio said in January that Brady possibly signing with the Dolphins as a free agent in March was "definitely on the table" at one point. Florio also repeatedly declared after the 2021 season that he was convinced Brady would somehow make it to the 49ers last year. 

Shortly before Brady announced his latest retirement on Feb. 1, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times wrote that "many close to (Brady) believe it’s likely" he'll play in 2023. Stroud also mentioned Brady grew up a San Francisco fan in San Mateo, where the quarterback's parents still live. 

"Brady wanted to sign with the 49ers in 2020. The 49ers politely declined," Florio explained in Thursday's piece. This past December, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted he regretted not landing Brady before the future Hall of Famer signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020. 

"Their championship window remains open, even if they’ve been unable to fly through it," Florio continued about the 49ers. "Brady could be the missing piece to the first San Francisco Super Bowl victory in 29 years — since the 29th Super Bowl." 

The 49ers are coming off back-to-back NFC Championship Game losses, and ESPN stats show Brady finished this past regular season third in the entire league with 4,694 passing yards. Brady turns 46 in August, but few can doubt that his arm can still sling it in the right offense that features a solid rushing attack such as San Francisco's. 

"Brady’s contract will expire next month, and he’ll become a free agent," Florio added. "The retirement letter he sent to the league and the union means jack diddly squat. He can play whenever, wherever, and for whomever he chooses." 

Maybe this turns out to be nothing, but history suggests at least somebody connected to one of the sides has discussed Brady possibly starting for the 49ers in Week 1 this coming September.