Insider suggests Tom Brady could sign with 49ers for 2023 NFL season

Somebody is already suggesting Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady could sign with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. 

"This would check a lot of boxes," NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said about the possibility during an appearance on Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub, as shared by Matt Hladik of The Spun. "Being able to finish in San Francisco, great offensive coach in Kyle Shanahan, great talent around him. Throwing to Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk...You've got Christian McCaffrey behind you. There are a lot of fun possibilities out there with Tom."

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio repeatedly mentioned the 49ers as a potential landing spot for Brady both before and after the seven-time Super Bowl champion temporarily retired this past winter. That was always understandable, as Brady grew up a passionate 49ers fan in California.

However, much has changed since then. It's been reported Brady will become the lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports on a 10-year deal worth $375 million whenever he retires from playing, for good. Additionally, the 45-year-old experienced off-the-field issues that resulted in a much-publicized divorce from Gisele Bündchen after 13 years of marriage. 

Brady hasn't confirmed or denied he wants to continue playing past the ongoing campaign but has appeared visibly "miserable" on football fields throughout the fall as the Buccaneers have fallen to 3-5. He can become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL year opens in March 2023. 

It also can't be ignored that the 49ers are, by all accounts, banking on signal-caller Trey Lance to make a full recovery from the season-ending ankle injury he suffered in September. Whether or not Shanahan and general manager John Lynch would risk their jobs by essentially giving up on Lance to start a 46-year-old version of Brady is unknown. 

Whatever the 49ers' intentions past this season, it's clear some experts expect Brady to take snaps in meaningful games next September.