Tom Brady Nearly Joined Dolphins as Player-Owner

Before he unretired to rejoin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 13, Tom Brady nearly signed with another NFL team as a player and owner.

After he announced his retirement on Feb. 1, Brady was reportedly near a deal to join the Miami Dolphins in a rare combined role. 

Those plans were scuttled by Brian Flores’ lawsuit, filed the same day, against the Dolphins, the NFL, five other named teams, and 26 “John Doe” teams.

Flores alleged racist hiring, retention, and termination practices by the league, and that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for every game the team lost to improve Miami’s draft position. Flores also said that Ross tried to make him break league tampering rules to recruit a top quarterback.

That quarterback was reportedly Brady, as he was nearing the end of his tenure with the New England Patriots. 

• The Dolphins were reportedly prepared to announce the deal on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 12-13.
• They were also planning to announce the hiring of Sean Payton as head coach. The Dolphins have acknowledged contacting the New Orleans Saints about a deal for Payton.

Maybe Next Year?

While Brady is back with the Bucs for the upcoming season on a one-year, $25 million deal, the possibility of a deal with the Dolphins, as a player, owner, or both, remains open for next season. 

Brady has a clause in his contract that prevents the Bucs from using the franchise tag to retain him for an additional year.