Should Tom Brady ever decide to return to New England full-time, new Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has a vision in mind for the legendary franchise quarterback.
When discussing Brady’s recent comments from the “DeepCuts” podcast, where he teased the idea of an NFL comeback following his retirement last year, Mayo stated Monday on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” the “door is always open” for the seven-time Super Bowl champion, but perhaps in a coaching role.
“I love Tom. The door is always open if he wants to come in here and coach. But as far as going on the field, I don’t know,” said Mayo, who was teammates with Brady, 46, for eight seasons.
“But if he comes in here, once again, going back to the best player will play, you got to come in here and compete.”
Mayo, who took over for Bill Belichick in January after the longtime coach and the Patriots parted ways, is entering his first season with a full quarterback room that includes journeyman Jacoby Brissett, third-year quarterback Bailey Zappe, ex-CFL pro Nathan Rourke and rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III.
New England took Maye, the former North Carolina quarterback, with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft last week. The Patriots grabbed Milton in the sixth round at No. 193.
The offseason competition will likely revolve around Brissett and Maye.
Despite Brady’s brief flirtation of an NFL return — which wouldn’t be without hurdles — Mayo isn’t holding his breath for an appearance by the future Hall of Famer in the immediate future.
“He loves competition… I doubt he’s going to be walking through these doors any time soon,” Mayo said.
A former sixth-round pick, Brady began his prolific NFL career in 2000 and spent 20 seasons in New England, where he won six Super Bowls.
The three-time league MVP took his talents to Tampa Bay after the 2019 season, winning what would be his seventh and final Super Bowl in February 2021.
Brady spent three seasons with the Buccaneers before calling it a career in February 2023.
During an appearance on the “DeepCuts” podcast this month, Brady stirred buzz after stating he’s “not opposed” to picking up the phone if a starting quarterback suffered an injury this season.
Brady then noted how becoming an NFL owner could thwart the possibility of a return.
“I don’t know if they’re going to let me if I become an owner of an NFL team,” said Brady, whose minority ownership stake in the Raiders has yet to be approved by the NFL.
Brady will have plenty to keep him busy this fall as he begins his new role as Fox’s lead NFL analyst.
He signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with the network in the spring of 2022.
