Tom Brady to take time after season before committing to return to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, sources say

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the reality that their season is at most three weeks from its conclusion, there is another reality lingering over the organization: the possibility of Tom Brady's retirement.

Sources both with the Bucs and close to Brady all recognize the star quarterback remains non-committal to playing beyond this season. Although Brady could decide to play again — he has talked about playing until he was 45, and even beyond — it is currently far from a given, sources tell ESPN.

Brady's departure is a topic that quietly has come up within the Bucs organization for weeks now, and there has been internal wonder about what the future holds for the seven-time Super Bowl champion and all-time NFL passing leader.

Brady, 44, plans to take time after the season ends — a month or longer — to assess how he feels physically and mentally while also gauging his family's desires, sources tell ESPN.

To a degree, this is nothing different than any aging veteran after any season. But with Brady, who has one year remaining on his current contract, the thoughts of retirement have become more of a reality than ever before.

Part of Brady's decision is likely to be situational; how Tampa Bay finishes this season, and how the three-time league MVP feels whenever the season concludes. Some sources believe that if Tampa Bay repeats as Super Bowl champions, it would increase the likelihood that Brady could walk away from the game.

Nothing about the decision has been predetermined, however, and Brady isn't naive to the questions he'll soon face, but he also wants nothing to distract him from his day-to-day pursuit of another Super Bowl title.

Sources tell ESPN that Brady is happy in Tampa, while team sources added the marriage