Tom Brady Reveals The NFL Didn't Let Him Come Back From Retirement

Tom Brady was the face and the soul of the New England Patriots for nearly two decades. Then, he made two equally shocking decisions: Sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then come back shortly after announcing his retirement.

Ever since he walked away from the game, Brady has teased a potential return. He’s clearly still in great shape, and watching him throw dimes at the Fanatics Flag Football game made fans fantasize about that possibility again.

Considering that, the seven-time Super Bowl champion finally came clean about his plans. He admitted that he’s actually inquired about potentially coming back, but there’s been some pushback from the NFL:

"I actually have inquired, and they don't like that idea very much," Brady said in an interview to promote his FIFA World Cup campaign with Ferrero, per CNBC. "We explored a lot of different things, and I'm very happily retired. Let me just say that, too."

That’s a rather odd decision, given that Brady is widely considered the greatest player in NFL history, and getting him back on the field would certainly be great for ratings — not that they needed it.

That said, Brady has contractual obligations with FOX and is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. His role with the organization is unclear, but he wants to do his part to lead the team back to glory:

"I'm a minority owner. So, when you're that, there's really no job description. I don't have really a daily role," he said. "You know, my phone call is always available to everybody who needs it. I want to see everyone succeed, be their best, bring a winning kind of a culture to Las Vegas — to bring the Raiders back to glory. I'd love to be a part of it."

Barring a surprise, the Raiders will take Indiana star QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. They could also use a veteran to ease him into action, but since the league doesn’t want Brady back on the field, they’ll have to look elsewhere.

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This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 8:42 AM.