Tom Brady reverses course, says he could play until he's 50: 'I think I can'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady must have found the fountain of youth between the offseason and Week 1. Brady apparently feels good enough that he's once again talking about playing in the NFL until he's 50.

Brady made those comments on an episode of "Tommy & Gronky," a show produced by the Bucs. When asked whether he can play until he's 50 years old, Brady responds, "I think I can. I think it's a yes."

That's not how Brady felt in June, when he backed off plans to play until he's 50. Prior to June's comments, Brady expressed a desire to play as long as possible. There were rumors suggesting Brady wanted to play until he was 50.

If Week 1 is any indication, Brady still has plenty left in the tank. Until he shows some serious drop off, it's tough to believe he would willingly walk away from the game any time soon.

Tom Brady under contract through 2022

Brady is at least set to keep playing through the 2022 NFL season. He signed a one-year extension with the Buccaneers in March, keeping Brady under contract through next season. Brady could always retire early and leave a year on the deal, but that doesn't seem likely with Brady still playing at a high level. 

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What happens after the 2022 NFL season is a mystery. That could present Brady with an easy way to exit the game, or he could opt to hit the free-agent market yet again. Brady would turn 46 before the start of the 2023 NFL season, and while teams might still be interested, only one other quarterback in NFL history — George Blanda — played at that age.