Prior to the 2020 season, Tom Brady made the decision to take his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the NFC South team had a backup plan in place in case the legendary quarterback chose another destination.
Fate works in interesting ways. In 2020, the New England Patriots informed Tom Brady that he was no longer part of their future plans, allowing him to test free agency for the first time in his career.
According to reports, Brady had several offers on the table. Ultimately, the one from the Buccaneers stood out—and it worked out perfectly for both sides.
Buccaneers reveal the QB who would’ve joined them in 2020 if Brady didn’t
When Brady hit the open market, the entire NFL watched closely. Many teams were in need of a franchise quarterback, but the final decision rested with Brady himself.
Fortunately for the Buccaneers, he chose Tampa Bay. Brady went on to lead the team to a Super Bowl victory, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
However, this iconic chapter nearly didn’t happen. Brady came close to either retiring or choosing another team. In anticipation of such an outcome, the Buccaneers had a backup plan ready.
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers revealed that Teddy Bridgewater is close to joining the team. This isn’t the first time Bridgewater has been linked to Tampa—he was actually their primary target in 2020 if Brady had gone elsewhere.
“We had him in here in 2014 before the draft, there might’ve been a situation where we would’ve taken him if he had fell a little further,” GM Jason Licht said about Teddy Bridgewater. “And, you know, a few years ago, he was what was behind door No. 2. So, we talked about that today on the sideline. We ended up with Tom Brady, but now we have Teddy on the roster.”
Why are the Buccaneers signing Teddy Bridgewater now?
Teddy Bridgewater has not officially signed with the Buccaneers yet, but it’s reportedly just a matter of time. The veteran quarterback is coming out of retirement to join Tampa Bay—though not as the starter.
With Baker Mayfield dealing with lingering health issues, the Buccaneers wanted to strengthen the quarterback room with a reliable backup. Mayfield is still expected to start, but Bridgewater gives the team a trustworthy option if needed.
SURVEY Is Baker Mayfield's job in jeopardy with Teddy Bridgewater behind?
Is Baker Mayfield's job in jeopardy with Teddy Bridgewater behind?
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