Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots former quarterback Tom Brady runs on the field during a halftime ceremony in his honor during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports.
It’s not a joke or a cockamamie theory. The Minnesota Vikings should call Tom Brady.
The idea would’ve been wacky and outlandish a month ago, but with QB1 Kirk Cousins presumably on the shelf for the rest of 2023 with a torn Achilles, the Vikings are the perfect team to call Brady for a chat about his second unretirement.
The 46-year-old — yes, he’s that old — walked away from the sport after the 2022 season, winning seven championships before calling it quits. And Brady has said a few times that he’s not returning to the gridiron, but a conversation or conference call with the Vikings wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Why?
Well, Vikings leaders know Brady. When Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was drafted by the New England Patriots, Brady was in the middle of his dominating reign. What’s more, Minnesota’s defensive coordinator Brian Flores was attached to the Patriots coaching staff in various capacities for 15 years while Brady ran the show.
Without O’Connell or Flores on the Vikings coaching staff, the Brady theory would be silly and perhaps discarded as nonsense. But relationships matter in sports, and Brady has two with O’Connell and Flores. Flores and Brady, especially, should know each other quite well.
The Vikings will likely lean on rookie passer Jaren Hall and veteran Nick Mullens in the next two months, which should help the franchise limp by until the offseason and maybe even effectuate a teensy playoff push. The latter depends on Hall’s rapid acclimation to the pros.
But Brady wouldn’t need any time to develop, and in fact, the Vikings roster and situation are the perfect landing spot for a quarterback wanting one more crack at glory.
Finally, Minnesota’s offensive line is dazzling — if that can be believed. The pass protection has arrived after years, if not decades, of fans’ prayers. Check. The offensive weaponry stable should make Brady salivate. Jefferson will return, and Jordan Addison + T.J. Hockenson would formulate one of the best personnel groups of Brady’s long career.
Then, after three games of woes, Flores’ defense has done the trick, snuffing out the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers while somewhat containing the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. It took almost a month, but the Vikings defense is now trustworthy.
Brady, as a Viking, is an admitted longshot. Yet, all these bright flashing lights are there to make a phone call worthwhile. All the man can say is no.
If the soon-to-be Hall of Famer is chomping at the bit for an excuse to return — one last hurrah — this is it.
Brady also has familial ties to the state of Minnesota.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.