Tom Brady Knew Bruce Arians Was Going to Retire Shortly After He Ended His Own Retirement

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians surprisingly retired from coaching on Wednesday night and will take a new job in Tampa Bay's front office.  The retirement wasn't surprising to everyone, including Tom Brady.

The greatest quarterback of all-time learned of Arians' plans shortly after he ended his own retirement.  Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times says Brady learned of Arians' retirement "the same day or a day after" he announced he was returning for another season.

Arians reportedly wanted to hand Todd Bowles a team capable of making a Super Bowl run.  With Brady, and those who want to play with him in Tampa, that's exactly what he's doing.

#Bucs QB Tom Brady was informed Bruce Arians planned to step down and Todd Bowles would succeed him as head coach either the same day or a day after the QB announced he was ending his retirement, the @TB_Times has learned. Team insists it was not related to Brady’s decision.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 31, 2022

Arians knows the questions about timing+Brady coming out of retirement would come.
We asked him.
"No. No. Tom was very in favor of what I’m doing. I had conflicts with every player I coached because I cussed them all out, including him. Great relationship off the field.” https://t.co/HwhBIFQyWM

— Peter King (@peter_king) March 31, 2022

Okay we get it you don't want it to look like Brady forced Arians into retirement.  But that's exactly what it looks like.

Brady retires because he doesn't want to play for Arians and the Bucs won't trade him.  He has discussions with the team about returning if Arians is gone.  He returns, Arians is gone.

That's the story I'm going with.  Even if it's not what happened, that's what it looks like and I'm fine with that.  If any player should be able to force a coach into retirement, it's Tom Brady.