Tom Brady had COVID-19 shortly after Buccaneers' Super Bowl parade

Although Tom Brady now is vaccinated against COVID-19, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback confirmed in an interview with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that he contracted the deadly virus shortly after the team's Super Bowl parade in February. 

The seven-time Super Bowl champion added he believes the virus will continue to stick around throughout the 2021 season and could affect games. 

"And I think it's going to be challenging this year," Brady said. "I actually think it's going to play more of a factor this year than last year, just because of the way what we're doing now and what the stadium is going to look like and what the travel is going to look like and the people in the building and the fans.

"It's not like last year, although we're getting tested like last year. It's going to be, I definitely think guys are going to be out at different points and we've just got to deal with it."

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians recently confirmed the team has a 100% vaccination rate entering the season. It's unclear if Brady encouraged his teammates to get vaccinated, but based on his comments, it's possible Bucs players listened to what he had to say about the shot. 

The Buccaneers brought back all of their starters from last season's Super Bowl-winning squad. With the opportunity to repeat as champions this season, Brady and his teammates know how important it is to have an uninterrupted season. 

The NFL announced in a memo earlier this summer that teams that have a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players will be forced to forfeit their postponed games if they cannot be rescheduled within the 18-week schedule. The Bucs won't be forced to forfeit any games because everyone is vaccinated. 

The only other team in the NFL to have a 100% vaccination rate is the Atlanta Falcons.