New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo says ‘the door is always open’ for Tom Brady to return to the team in a coaching capacity.
Brady, who spent 20 years with the Pats where he won six Super Bowls, called time on his playing career after the 2022 season, but did admit last month that he would ‘not be opposed’ to a playing return, should the correct opportunity arise.
Mayo, who took the reigns in New England from the legendary Bill Belichick at the end of last season, discussed his former teammate on WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show’ and while he was cool on seeing Brady back in pads, he wouldn’t hesitate to give him his first coaching job.
“The door is always open if he wants to come in here and coach,” the rookie head coach said. “But as far as going on the field I don’t know.”
Brady will turn 47 in August and Mayo does not believe a return to the gridiron is imminent.
“I doubt he’s going to be walking through these doors anytime soon,” he added.
Brady is due to take up an analyst job with Fox for the upcoming season after he signed a ten-year deal worth up to $375million.
That hasn’t stopped questions over whether he would like to return as a player, however.
“I’m not opposed to it,” Brady said when asked if he would consider a return if a team in contention lost their starting quarterback to injury late on a season last month.
“I don’t know if they’re going to let me, if I become an owner of an NFL team, I don’t know. I’m always going to be in good shape, always going to be able to throw the ball. I don’t know if they’d let me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
The Patriots appear set at the quarterback position after using their third overall draft pick to select Drake Maye last week, with veteran passer Jacoby Brissett also on the roster after he was picked up via free agency.
Live on DAZN PPV: Canelo vs. Munguia on May 4. Click here for details.