The Jets might not be free of Tom Brady and his Lombardi Trophy pursuit just yet

There haven’t been many reasons for New York Jets fans to smile throughout the 2020s, though their finally escaping Tom Brady’s wrath should be near the top of said list.

For the sake of whatever positivity still flows through their veins, they’d better hope Brady stays retired and in the FOX broadcast booth.

Lars Anderson, whose Brady biography was officially released on Tuesday, isn’t so sure the future Hall of Fame quarterback is officially done. During an interview with Front Office Sports, Anderson suggested that the 49-year-old Brady likely regrets how his career ended in 2022; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost in the NFC Wild Card Round, and Brady finalized his divorce from Gisele Bündchen.

“I think he wishes he got number eight,” Anderson said. “I think he wishes circumstances could have been different and he could have kept playing.”

As of publication, Brady had not addressed Anderson’s comments.

Could the New York Jets actually face Tom Brady during the 2027 season?

Considering that Brady turns 50 next August, we’d be shocked if he even put on a red jersey and helmet during a visit to Patriots camp. Philip Rivers’ improbable return to the Indianapolis Colts last year is the exception and something we’ll almost certainly never see again.

“But I do think that if Tom had his druthers, he would be playing right now,” Anderson argued, “and I would not be shocked if he somehow tries to play next year.” 

But for the sake of conversation, let’s say that Brady elected to play in 2027. Age didn’t stop Brady from completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions for the Buccaneers four years ago.

Unlike the other three major North American sports, the Jets obviously won’t play all 31 teams next year. However, we can already piece together a significant chunk of their schedule; they’ll face the AFC East teams twice, and they’re locked into facing the NFC East and AFC South. Additionally, they’ll play to-be-determined teams from the AFC North, AFC West, and NFC South.

Barring disaster, we could already rule out the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Jacksonville Jaguars. We’ll count the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans as borderline because Jalen Hurts’ and C.J. Stroud’s long-term futures are uncertain, and the latter is a free agent after the 2027 season. Other than that, pretty much every team should be considered fair game — and yes, that includes the Patriots.

But there’s a stronger chance of the NFL ending all gambling-related advertisements during broadcasts than there is of Brady unretiring. He’d need to give up his ownership stake in the Raiders, which would be foolish considering how involved he’s become, and that’s not even factoring in the physical abuse he’d take. 

You can rest easy tonight, Jets fans. The boogeyman is staying back in the expensive closet.

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