Report: Tom Brady 'noncommittal' about returning to play in 2022

Tom Brady led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns during the 2021 regular season and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers three wins away from winning another Super Bowl. But even though his level of play is still elite, ESPN reported Sunday morning that there's a real possibility the 15-time Pro Bowler won't be back in 2022.

"Brady's departure is a topic that quietly has come up within the Tampa Bay organization for weeks now," Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter reported. "There has been internal uncertainty about what the future holds for the seven-time Super Bowl champion and all-time NFL passing leader.

"Brady, 44, plans to take time after the season ends -- a month or longer -- to assess how he feels physically and mentally while also gauging his family's desires, sources told ESPN."

While the report wouldn't usually be surprising for a player who is set to turn 45 before the beginning of next season, it's a change of tune for Brady. In September, Brady told the Wall Street Journal that he'd "definitely" play through the 2022 season and then “maybe it’s another year after that; maybe it’s two."

Just a couple days prior to the ESPN report, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said he'd be "shocked" if Brady opted to retire in the upcoming offseason.

Brady's backup in Tampa Bay is 32-year-old veteran Blaine Gabbert, but the team also selected Kyle Trask in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Trask threw one touchdown and two interceptions in preseason, and didn't appear in any regular season games.