Advertisement
The Dolphins are in search of a new starting quarterback following Tua Tagovailoa’s recent concussion during their loss to the Bills on “Thursday Night Football.” The injury occurred when Tagovailoa’s head collided with Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin’s chest, causing him to fall and forcing him out of the game.
This concussion marks the third one Tagovailoa has suffered in the past two seasons, raising serious concerns about his availability for the rest of the 2024 season. Consequently, the Dolphins need to explore other quarterback options.
Currently, Skylar Thompson is set to take over as the starting quarterback for Miami. However, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has stated that the team will be evaluating all available options, including potentially adding a new player to the roster. This could involve looking at free-agent quarterbacks.
As often happens when a high-profile quarterback position opens up, there’s already speculation about whether Tom Brady, who is retired, might come back to play for the Dolphins. Brady, a former Patriots star, has previously expressed interest in returning to football and has connections with the Dolphins.
So, could Tom Brady make a comeback and join the Dolphins? Here’s what you need to know.
Could Tom Brady join the Dolphins?
When Tua Tagovailoa went down with his concussion, social media quickly lit up with speculation about potential replacements for the Dolphins. Fans and analysts alike started tossing around names, from former Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill to current backups like Josh Dobbs. And yes, Tom Brady was part of the conversation too.
The buzz intensified when former NFL player Darius Butler posted a photoshopped image of Brady in a Dolphins uniform on X (formerly known as Twitter). Former NFL quarterback Devlin Hodges also shared the idea of Brady returning to the field.
However, it’s not just about Brady’s potential return; he would need league-wide approval to make a comeback. Given that he’s also involved with the Raiders, it’s uncertain how the other teams, especially those with stakes in the Raiders, would react.
Brady’s connection to the Dolphins isn’t purely speculative. He has a history with the team, not just from his days as a Patriots quarterback. Brady and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross are both alumni of the University of Michigan, and there have been discussions about Brady joining Ross’ Dolphins before.
In 2021, the NFL penalized Miami for improper communication with Brady while he was still under contract with Tampa Bay. The Dolphins were fined, and Ross was suspended for attempting to recruit Brady to become a player-owner, meaning he’d have a stake in the team while also playing.
Despite these past discussions, it’s unlikely that Brady will join the Dolphins. He’s currently involved in a different venture—trying to purchase a stake in the Raiders. Brady is part of a group looking to buy a 10-percent share in the team, which would give him about 7 percent ownership. This deal is pending NFL approval and might be finalized by the end of the 2024 season.
The complication? Brady’s new role as a broadcaster with Fox also adds another layer of difficulty. According to NFL rules, if Brady were to own part of the Raiders, he would need approval from all 32 NFL teams to play for another team, like the Dolphins, which could be a significant hurdle.
So while the idea of Brady coming out of retirement to play for the Dolphins is exciting, it faces several significant obstacles.