Longtime teammate believes Tom Brady won't return to Buccaneers

At least one person close to Tom Brady believes the quarterback has taken his last meaningful snap with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

As shared by the Joe Bucs Fan website, retired wide receiver Julian Edelman, who spent more than a decade as Brady's teammate with the New England Patriots, explained why he's convinced the seven-time Super Bowl champion won't return to the Buccaneers.

"If he has another season it won’t be in Tampa Bay," Edelman remarked. "Tom is a businessman. Tom is a smart guy. He’s going to do exactly what he did when he left New England. He’s going to the best situation that helps him win — if he wants to continue his playing career." 

Brady famously featured for the Patriots from 2000 through the 2019 campaign before he signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent in March 2020. The 45-year-old is again set to hit free agency when the new league year opens this coming March and hasn't yet publicly revealed his plans. 

Edelman may have jumped the gun with comments that were made before Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times and Jenna Laine of ESPN reported that the Buccaneers are moving on from offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and also "as many as five offensive assistants and two on defense."

It was reported before Tampa Bay fell to the Dallas Cowboys in Monday's wild-card playoff game that the Bucs want Brady back for another season. One would assume TB12 would have some say in building the team's incoming offensive coaching staff if he commits his future to the organization. 

It's also been widely reported Brady will have plenty of suitors if he tests the open market. The San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans are among the franchises linked with Brady this winter even though some believe he offered a farewell as an active player following Monday's defeat. 

If Brady embraces a full-time retirement this offseason, he could begin his new career as the lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports on a contract that reportedly will pay him $375 million over 10 years.