TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 12: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Raymond James Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Wednesday marked three weeks since Tom Brady announced his retirement from football for a second time, but the speculation about another un-retirement certainly hasn’t gone away.

After all, Brady announced his initial retirement on Feb. 1 of last year, only to reveal 40 days later that he was coming back for a 23rd season. So it’s easy to understand why some folks are skeptical about him actually staying retired.

Before Brady announced his retirement earlier this month, there was speculation that he would join his childhood team in the San Francisco 49ers. The NFC runner-ups are moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo, and 2022 hero Brock Purdy will spend several months recovering from surgery on his UCL.

At Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio suggested that Brady’s boyhood team could “influence” him to come out of retirement yet again for a 24th season:
“The 49ers ultimately could have a major influence over the final outcome. Trey Lance missed nearly all of 2022 with a broken ankle. Brock Purdy‘s elbow apparently is more messed up than believed, given that he can’t even have surgery on it yet, due to the lingering swelling. There are real questions about the quarterback position for a team that is otherwise among the NFL’s elite…

Now, with Jimmy Garoppolo finally moving on and real questions about Lance and Purdy, why shouldn’t the 49ers make a move for Brady? Their championship window remains open, even if they’ve been unable to fly through it. Brady could be the missing piece to the first San Francisco Super Bowl victory in 29 years — since the 29th Super Bowl….Maybe he won’t unretire for a second time. The point is that, no matter how he feels now, no one knows (including him) how he’ll feel later.

Especially if the 49ers become persistent in their efforts to bring Brady home. And if Brady realizes that, with Patrick Mahomes possibly ready to make a run at seven, it could be wise to try to get No. 8.”

The 49ers are certainly the perfect fit for Brady, should he decide to actually play in 2023. The seven-time Super Bowl champion would join a star-studded roster with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey as his main set of weapons. He’d be protected by All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams and further supported by the league’s No. 1 defense of 2022.

But Brady tried to make it clear in his second retirement announcement that he’s done for good. And would the 49ers really take a chance on a soon-to-be 46-year-old when they have two promising youngsters in Purdy and Trey Lance?

Whether Brady likes it or not, rumors of him potentially coming back to play will continue to ramp up in the coming weeks, with no end in sight.