Why Buccaneers GM 'loved' pandemic-impacted 2020 season

Despite numerous complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted clubs through the playoffs, the NFL successfully completed a full 2020 season that wrapped up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recording an impressive 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. 

During an appearance on the latest edition of the "Field Talk Podcast," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht acknowledged that he "loved" what will forever be known as the NFL's COVID-19 season. 

"Nothing but fond memories of it. Almost," Licht explained, as shared by the JoeBucsFan website. "I understand the seriousness, of course. I meant just [in] that period of time. Tom Brady wanted to come and play for us. That was pretty cool."

Brady earned his first six career Super Bowl rings while playing for the New England Patriots from 2000-19 season. It's now known that he decided long before he put pen to paper on his Tampa Bay contract in March 2020 that he "wasn’t going to sign up for more of" working with legendary head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick was Brady's coach for all of TB12's New England tenure. 

"[Brady] did his homework," Licht said about winning the services of the all-time great not long after much of the sports world shut down because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak. "He basically knew which teams needed him and needed a quarterback and wanted him, and he chose [the Bucs]. Now, I don’t know if we were in first, second, third, you know, whatever it was, but he usually makes pretty good decisions." 

Licht added that Brady was eager to play for head coach Bruce Arians and throw passes to talented wide receivers such as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Per Pro Football Reference, Brady ended the 2020 regular season ranked ninth in the NFL with a 66.0 adjusted QBR, ninth with a 102.2 passer rating, third with 4,633 passing yards and second with 40 touchdowns through the air. He then guided Tampa Bay to three straight road playoff victories before he connected on 21-of-29 passes for 201 yards and three scores en route to earning Super Bowl LV Most Valuable Player Award honors. 

Tampa Bay fans weren't able to celebrate that championship via a standard parade, but Brady and Co. nevertheless managed to put on a one-of-a-kind show that locals may never forget.