Father addresses if Tom Brady could've played for 49ers this season

Somebody quite close to Tom Brady believes the all-time great quarterback never truly considered replacing Brock Purdy as the San Francisco 49ers' starter ahead of the 2023 season. 

Tom Brady Sr. recently revealed to Christopher L. Gasper of The Boston Globe that the 46-year-old signal-caller would've never called San Francisco home for the entire campaign because all three of Brady's children are located on the East Coast. 

Brady grew up a 49ers fan in San Mateo and reportedly wanted to sign with the franchise after the 2019 campaign. 

"If Purdy got knocked out on Jan. 2, and they needed someone and called Tommy, he might have just stepped back in for two or three games," Brady Sr. explained. "As much as he thrives on practice, and not having practiced in so long, I don’t think he would’ve been able to." 

It was reported earlier this month that Purdy had been told by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan last offseason that the club would attempt to pursue Brady after the seven-time Super Bowl champion became a free agent. Brady retired a second time and "for good" on Feb. 1, 2023, and he said this past October his parents and kids would "kill" him if he completed another comeback to an active roster. 

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Brady somewhat danced around the San Francisco topic but also insisted he's "focused" on serving as Fox's lead NFL analyst beginning next season. 

Last February, Brady Sr. noted his son was "very secure" about his latest retirement decision after the quarterback had gone through "a really rough six months." Brady and Gisele Bündchen confirmed their divorce after 13 years of marriage in October 2022. 

Brady Sr. is now able to joke that he and his wife want Brady to unretire because "no game means anything" without watching the future Hall of Famer on Sundays. The proud parents, along with football fans around the country, will simply have to welcome Brady calling games rather than playing in them this coming September.