Tom Brady signs contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady. (Reuters)
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Updated 21 March 2020
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Tom Brady signs contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • The three-time NFL Most Valuable Player is leaving the New England Patriots after 20 seasons and a record six crown

NEW YORK: Six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady announced Friday he has signed an NFL contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who confirmed the blockbuster free agent signing.

Three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brady, who turns 43 in August, announced Tuesday he was leaving the New England Patriots after 20 seasons and a record six crowns under coach Bill Belichick. “Excited, humble and hungry,” Brady said in an Instagram posting of a photo of him signing the document.

“If there is one thing I have learned about football, it’s that nobody cares what you did last year or the year before that. You earn the trust and respect of those around through your commitment every single day. “I’m starting a new football journey and I’m thankful for the Buccaneers for giving me an opportunity to do what I love to do. I look forward to meeting all my new teammates and coaches and proving to them that they can believe 
and trust in me.”

The Bucs said Brady signed a “multi-year” contract while ESPN reported it was a two-year deal.

Multiple reports Thursday had the deal worth $30 million a season, what would be a free agent record, breaking the $28 million a year mark set by Kirk Cousins.

“I have always believed that well done is better than well said, so I’m not gonna say much more,” Brady wrote. “I’m just gonna get to work.”

Brady joins a Buccaneers club owned by Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer, a team that has not reached the NFL playoffs since 2007.

The 12-year post-season drought is the NFL’s second-longest active futility run behind only Cleveland.

But if Brady can make magic happen and find his way back to the Super Bowl with a new club, he would be playing for the crown on familiar turf — the 2021 Super Bowl is scheduled for Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

That’s clearly the Buccaneers’ goal, their website announcement of Brady’s arrival declaring they are “all in” and Brady as the “greatest of all time.”

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht was a member of the Patriots’ scouting staff when Brady was drafted in 2000.

“Tom is a proven champion who has achieved greatness on the field because he demands the best out of himself and his teammates,” Licht said. “I’ve known Tom since we drafted him in New England 20 years ago and through this process it became very clear that his desire to be a champion burns as strong today as it ever has. He possesses the type of rare natural leadership qualities that will immediately impact our entire organization.”


Rajkovic excels as Al-Ittihad cruise to victory against Al-Shabab

Updated 28 December 2025
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Rajkovic excels as Al-Ittihad cruise to victory against Al-Shabab

  • Al-Ittihad secure fifth Saudi Pro League win of the season with a 2-0 victory

JEDDAH: It has not been the start to the season that Al-Ittihad fans had anticipated. Nevertheless, on their return to Saudi Pro League action after a 36-day hiatus, the defending champions delivered a performance that offered renewed confidence ahead of a demanding run of seven matches in the space of 30 days.

The opening exchanges proved far from straightforward for The Tigers.

Attempting to play out from the back, they were punished within the first two minutes as Abdullah Matuq pounced on a mistake to find himself one-on-one with Predrag Rajkovic, only for the Serbian goalkeeper to produce the first of several crucial saves. Just 60 seconds later, Rajkovic was called into action again, this time denying a header from a corner.

Momentum soon shifted. Roger Fernandes began to cause problems down the left wing, his quick footwork getting the better of Al-Shabab’s defence before he delivered a low cross into the box. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, aided by Karim Benzema’s intelligent screening of Saad Balobaid, met it to open the scoring in the 16th minute.

Al-Ittihad came close to doubling their advantage in the 28th minute. Mohannad Al-Shangeeti struck the far post with a powerful effort, before his follow-up attempt narrowly missed the target, drifting wide of Marcelo Grohe’s goal.

Grohe was later called upon to keep Al-Shabab in the contest, producing a fine save in the 58th minute to deny Benzema after the Frenchman was released by a perfectly weighted pass from Steven Bergwijn.

Al-Ittihad continued to dominate possession, though Imanol Alguacil’s side managed to limit Fernandes’ influence by committing extra defensive cover on the left flank.

That adjustment failed to account for Al-Shangeeti’s runs from deep, as he surged down the right to find Bergwijn, who finished first time to seal the contest for the hosts in the 85th minute.

Late substitute Abdulaziz Al-Bishi thought he had added a third in the closing stages, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The win lifts Al-Ittihad into sixth place on 17 points, while Al-Shabab remain just two points above the relegation zone, extending their winless run to eight matches since their Matchday 2 victory over Al-Hazem.