Tom Brady revealed that the Bears made a strong push to sign the future Hall of Famer during the 2020 offseason.
As history knows, Brady ultimately signed with the Buccaneers and led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title, but during Sunday’s Fox broadcast, he gave a bit more insight into what went into the 2020 decision.
During the fourth quarter, Brady discussed the “18 criteria” he had for the team he planned to sign with after leaving the Patriots.
“Chicago was a team, and I’ve never told that story before, they were very stealth in their recruitment.” @TomBrady shares the notecards he had when he was making his decision in free agency 👀⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NmPpGMFKU2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2024
Among that list were salary, weather, facilities and the teammates he’d have on his new team.
That was when Brady explained that the Bears had actually made a strong pitch to him in trying to recruit him to the Windy City.
“Chicago was a team, and I’ve never told that story before, they were very stealth in their recruitment,” Brady explained. “I was seriously considering, but in the end, it came down to Tampa. And it was close to my son Jack, I loved Bruce Arians and the role that he played in offense, and ultimately the great players like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin that I’m still out there watching today.”
The new revelation is sure to have Bears fans wondering what could have been after they apparently came close to signing one of the sport’s greatest quarterbacks.
Things haven’t exactly gone swimmingly for the Bears in the subsequent years at the quarterback position, with Justin Fields never panning out and the Caleb Williams era just beginning.
Brady went on to have plenty of success with the Buccaneers, capturing a Super Bowl ring with the franchise, leading them to a franchise-record 13-win season in 2021 and winning back-to-back NFC South titles.
Brady was on the call for the Buccaneers’ game against the Eagles at Raymond James Stadium, which the Buccaneers won, 33-16.
