Tom Brady, the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time, was active in the league until he was 45 years old. Three years after his retirement, he believes that he could still play, and has confidence that he’d still be one of the best.
Tom Brady Believes He Could Still Play In The NFL
The seven-time Super Bowl champion enjoyed a 23-year career that saw him rewrite virtually every NFL passing record and redefine longevity at the position. He won championships for two different franchises, and did it all despite being a 6th round draft pick.
Brady retired “for good” in early 2023, insisting he was finished with playing at the highest level.
But Brady’s recent remarks suggest he still believes in his physical ability to compete, and do so at a high level. On an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal, the now-48-year-old was asked if he’d be “ready to go right now”. Without hesitation, Brady responded:
“I’d whoop a** right now. I could go out there and play. Give me a month, I could go play with anybody…I took care of my body great, I mean, I could do it all.”
Brady would go on to say that he wouldn’t want to put himself through the long slog of an NFL season.
Tom Brady on if he can still play in the NFL:
“I’d whoop a** right now… Give me a month.”
NEW episode ft. @TomBrady here: https://t.co/WRbPVUmmfU pic.twitter.com/4vHeTZcr6X
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) December 17, 2025
Of course, Brady’s current role complicates any hypothetical comeback. He is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, a position that he’d have to give up if he ever hoped to put on the pads again. His comments also come in the wake of another former QB who recently returned to action. Phillip Rivers’ surprising un-retirement at age 44 had the football world baffled last week, which prompted the conversation about whether or not Brady could still compete.
Tom Brady may be out of uniform, but he isn’t out of the spotlight. From broadcasting to team ownership, his influence remains throughout the league, and there are likely plenty of people who believe that he could still be a winning quarterback in the NFL.
