Tom Brady says he's returning as Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB next season

TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady's retirement lasted 40 days.

Brady said Sunday he is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his 23rd season in the NFL. The seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his decision on Twitter and Instagram, saying he has «unfinished business.''

»These past two months I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,'' Brady wrote. «That time will come. But it's not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa.''

These past two months I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it's not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG pic.twitter.com/U0yhRKVKVm

The announcement comes the same day Brady posted a video on his Instagram stories in which soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo asked him, „You're finished right?“ Brady's answer was not audible, but the expression on his face suggested he really hadn't closed the door on retirement.

In a statement Sunday evening, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said the announcement was something the team had been preparing for in recent days.

»[Head coach Bruce Arians] and I have had plenty of conversations with Tom recently that led us to believe there was a realistic chance he would want to come back," Licht said. «Tom is the greatest quarterback of all time who is still playing at an elite level. With this decision now made, we will continue to move forward with our offseason plans to reload this roster for another championship run.»

Arians at the NFL combine two weeks ago said he didn't think Brady was