Sep 25, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings currently employ Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall in the 2024 quarterback room — with a rookie quarterback on the way, at least according to the NFL draft community.
But why not Tom Brady? That’s the work from Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd.
Brady was asked on The Deep Cuts podcast last week if he’d return to the NFL in the event of a quarterback injury, and his reply surprised many. “I’m not opposed to it. I don’t know if they are going to let me if I become an owner of an NFL team. I’m always going to be in good shape. I’ll always be able to throw the ball. So, to come in for a little bit, like MJ [Michael Jordan] coming back, I don’t know if they would let me. But I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” Brady replied.
The GOAT passer retired after the 2022 season and stayed away from football last year despite oodles of QB1 injuries. Perhaps 2024 will be a different arrangement.
After the Brady comments, Cowherd floated the Vikings as a landing spot for Brady. Cowherd said, “Let’s say the Minnesota Vikings call. Sam Darnold — slight injury — and whoever the draft at quarterback is not ready to play in that division with the Packers’ offense, the Bears with Caleb Williams, and the Vikings like their team. They’re off to a 3-1 start. Look at what they would have.”
Cowherd then displayed all of Minnesota’s offensive weaponry on screen, from Kevin O’Connell and Justin Jefferson to Christian Darrisaw and everything in between.
“Seven elite players, including the head coach. Who’s more gifted in the NFL offensively?” Cowherd added about Brady in Minnesota as a reasonable option.
Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was lost for the season in late October of 2023 at Lambeau Field, tearing his Achilles and prompting Minnesota to swing a low-risk trade for Arizona Cardinals passer Joshua Dobbs. And while the Vikings weighed options during a 48-hour window regarding next steps without Cousins, former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak claims Minnesota’s front office called Brady.
Discussing the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback options after losing Joe Burrow in November, Zolak said on The Zolak and Bertrand Show, “The Vikings reached out.”
The show’s panel was generally intrigued, if not a bit shocked, by Zolak’s breaking news, but the segment didn’t dive much further into Brady-to-Vikings. After speculating that Brady would not oblige any requests from the Vikings or Bengals, Zolak declared, “Brady is done.”
Zolak called Patriots’ games as a radio personality in the past. His theory probably didn’t hit the airwaves out of left field and shouldn’t be panned as a conspiracy or clickbait. If he said the Vikings picked up the phone for a chat with Brady, he’s probably accurate.
Of course, in 2024, it’s best that Minnesota doesn’t need Brady or any free agent during the season, instead enjoying optimal health for Darnold and the rookie quarterback-to-be. But per Cowherd, Brady to the Vikings makes sense.
Brady will turn 47 in August — eight years older than the aforementioned O’Connell.
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.