FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 03: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up in front of the New England Patriots tunnel before the game between the Buccaneers and the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Tom Brady has retired from professional football for a second time. This time around, he’s expected to stick to his stance, though some fans feel differently.

The 45-year-old was understood to have narrowed his options down to either retiring or re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he did consider other teams.

The San Francisco 49ers were reported to be TB’s likeliest destination, while the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins were also tipped as landing spots for the coveted signal-caller. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Brady did consider all of those teams but, when a return to the New England Patriots was brought up, Brady replied: “No, that ain’t happening.”

Prior to his retirement, Tom Brady went over his options, including the #49ers, #Raiders and #Dolphins, according to @JeffDarlington

When a return to the #Patriots

was suggested to Brady, he quickly said: "No, that ain't happening."

Eventually, he retired as the GOAT at age 45. pic.twitter.com/nurYgOU2fJ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 3, 2023

Ultimately, Brady opted to retire and is now set for a new, lucrative career as an analyst with FOX. Brady will earn $375 million as a television personality, having signed a 10-year deal with the network, yet he won’t be part of their broadcast team during the Super Bowl next Sunday.

The 49ers, meanwhile, will need to consider other options if the reports of them being keen on signing Brady are true. They won’t be bringing Jimmy Garoppolo back and are likely to be without breakout star Brock Purdy for all of 2023 as the QB will undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow following the injury sustained against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship affair on Sunday.