The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone down the drain in the playoffs. They lost 14:31 to the Dallas Cowboys. Inevitably, the question arises: Was this Tom Brady’s last game in his unprecedented career?

It was somewhat reminiscent of the podium Tom Brady had stood on back on January 5, 2020.

Then, as now, Brady and his team lost more or less miserably in the Wild Card playoffs. Then with the New England Patriots against the Tennessee Titans, today with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Dallas Cowboys.

“It’s not the ending we were hoping for. But we didn’t deserve it either,” summed up the quarterback, who, however, also had praise for the opponent: “They have my appreciation, they played a good game. They had a lot more plays than we did. It was a tough night for us. “

The question on the NFL world’s mind, however, was the same then as it is now: Was this it for Brady? Was that the last time we saw the GOAT with his shoulder pads on?

Brady speaks little yet says much

At his post-game press conference, Brady was confronted with this question, of course he didn’t give a concrete answer yet. “I’m going to go home and get some sleep after this game for now,” Brady responded when asked about his next steps.

“There was a lot of focus on this game and I’m looking from day to day.” The most media-friendly answer the 45-year-old could have given.

However, he gave the clearest hint towards the future at the end of his media round. That’s when he thanked not only all the journalists, but also all the contributors to the 2022 season.

“I love this organisation, it’s great here. I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome you have given me here and for the respect I have been shown,” the playmaker explained.

“I hope I could give the same back to you. Thank you very much,” he ended his press conference – and with it, possibly, his time as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. In March, Brady will become a free agent.

Brady: Praise from Bucs teammates despite playoff exit

Regardless of where or if he will continue his career, he is the greatest quarterback in NFL history to some of his Bucs colleagues.

“It’s definitely a surreal feeling to watch someone as a kid and then get a chance to be in the locker room with him, talk to him and compete against him in practice. You can see why he’s the guy he is and why he’s such a great quarterback,” linebacker Lavonte David gushed after the game, adding, “I’m definitely thankful for him. I said to him, ‘No matter what, you’re the GOAT in my eyes.'”

Other teammates joined in the praise. For running back Rachaad White, he’s an “unbelievable person,” while tight end Cameron Brate described him as someone “I’ve looked up to my whole life. “

Brady coach Bowles won’t comment

And what does head coach Todd Bowles have to say about Brady’s future? “We will sit down and talk in due course. There’s nothing to say about it at the moment,” said the 59-year-old.

Recently, there were rumours that the Las Vegas Raiders were interested in the playmaker, and there was also speculation about a commitment to San Francisco.

In the end, only Brady himself makes the decision. But he needed “a good night’s sleep” first.