The seven-time Super Bowl winner almost chose a different franchise in 2020 instead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 18 criteria tipped the scales.

Tom Brady once again shared a surprising story on Sunday.

The most successful quarterback in NFL history, who now works as an expert for “Fox”, revealed during the broadcast of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles that he almost ended up with the Chicago Bears a few years ago!

Instead, the now 47-year-old signed with the Bucs as a free agent in 2020 after his time with the New England Patriots and won his seventh Super Bowl ring with the Florida franchise.

Brady decided on new team based on 18 criteria

Brady revealed why he ultimately chose Tampa Bay over the Bears. He said he had actually created 18 deciding criteria and written them on notepads for each team.

Among other things, the weather played a role, but so did the training grounds and, of course, the coaches and teammates.

Brady had brought the notes with him and held them up to the camera. “Chicago is a team I’ve never spoken about. They kept a low profile in their courtship, but I seriously considered it,” Brady said.

“But in the end, Tampa was the choice. I could be close to my son Jack, I loved Bruce Arians and his role in the offense. And then there were great players like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who I still enjoy watching today,” the ex-quarterback elaborated.

How would it have gone for the Bears with Tom Brady?

While Brady and the Bucs won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in their first season together, the Bears had a mixed season with quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles and were knocked out in the Wild Card playoffs.

Whether the season would have been different for Chicago with Tom Brady is, of course, pure speculation. But it’s an interesting thought experiment.