Could Tom Brady head back to the Patriots? NFL insider reveals exactly what it would take for a blockbuster reunion with Bill Belichick

Tom Brady has two options at the end of this NFL season: retire or keep playing. If he opts to do the latter, which many expect him to do, then he'll be a free agent when his Tampa Bay Buccaneers contract expires. That lines up perfectly for a theoretical reunion with his former team, the New England Patriots.

According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, the possibility of a reunion is not just hypothetical. There's a real chance it will come to fruition. Howe said to never write off the Patriots. He discussed Brady and Belichick's relationship and respect for one another, which is something they make a public point of displaying.

He believes the issues are "not the ego, not the pride." The real issue would be Mac Jones and the long-term future of the New England Patriots.

At 45 years old, Brady doesn't have a lot in the tank, and unless the Patriots are looking to trade Mac Jones for 2024 draft capital, it doesn't make a lot of sense. If they were to do that, they could look at taking Tom Brady for one last Super Bowl push and trade up in the 2024 NFL draft for a QB. A lot of hypotheticals there to consider.

Other than that, according to Howe, there's no real reason why the Patriots won't bring back their longtime quarterback for one more run.

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Will Tom Brady head back to the Patriots in the 2023 NFL season?

A potential reunion would be a big move for both parties. They won six Super Bowls together and the Brady and Belichick duo is widely considered the best in NFL history.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

It wouldn't be as seamless as some would think, though. The Patriots just invested in Mac Jones with a first-round pick in 2021. They also have Bailey Zappe behind him, both of whom have shown flashes.

If they opt to keep one as the backup to Brady (and his potential successor when he retires, as awkward as that would be), they'll need to trade the other. This seems like a particularly short-sighted course of action, as Brady is very close to the end of his career.

It will be difficult to maneuver, but bringing back the future Hall of Famer might be worth it.

Is Tom Brady going back to the Patriots for the 2023 NFL Season? There's no telling what his plan is, but it's almost certainly in the back of his mind and the possibility simply cannot be ruled out.