Wide receiver Mike Evans gives the ball to a random fan after Tom Brady’s 600th touchdown thrown. If the fan hadn’t given it back, he’d probably be a rich man now.

Munich – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach had to do a lot of convincing to get the game ball back after Tom Brady’s 600th passing touchdown.

Because wide receiver Mike Evans wasn’t paying attention beforehand, he gave the historically tainted ball to a fan with his jersey number “13”. The fan finally gave the ball back and in return received another ball and a $1,000 voucher for the Buccaneers fan shop.

Fan calls in: “A round of golf with Brady “

“Bucs” fan Byron Kennedy, who happened to be part of Sunday’s historic event, was a guest on “NFL Network” Monday. In doing so, he indicated that he wouldn’t want more money, but brought forth a special wish: “As a little redemption, I’d like a round of golf with Brady,” he explained with a grin.

“If I had to call the plays against the Saints, I’d lose,” he replied when asked if he wouldn’t like to be on the sidelines for the next game. “I’ll see you on the golf course,” he joked in conclusion.

Sports memorabilia means coveted

Tom Brady also promised after the game, “He’s certainly getting another helmet and some jerseys for it.” As “Yahoo Sports” now reports, the fan apparently passed up a real jackpot for the Buccaneers’ promises.

“You would have gotten at least $500,000 for that ball, maybe even $750,000,” auction expert Ken Goldin told “Yahoo”. Goldin specialises in special memorabilia from the history of US sports. The collectors’ market in the USA has been booming for several years anyway.

Whether the fan was aware from the start what a historic ball he was holding in his hands is not yet known. At the very least, Brady’s teammate Evans also seems to have been unaware at that moment that he was handing over Brady’s 600 ball, of all things.

“Mike gave it away and apologised to me straight away. I really don’t keep many things, but with that ball it feels like I should keep it,” Brady said with relief after the match. The 44-year-old is the first quarterback in NFL history to record 600 passing touchdowns in his career.