sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Tom Brady Came So Close To Changing His Iconic Jersey Number When He Joined The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady Came So Close To Changing His Iconic Jersey Number When He Joined The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He's donned number 12 ever since he joined the NFL back in 2000, but Brady had his eye on a new number in Tampa Bay.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

It's arguably one of the most legendary jersey numbers in all of sports.

But it has been revealed that Tom Brady was almost tempted into swapping his number 12 jersey for a number 7 after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

And let's be honest, "TB7" definitely doesn't have the same ring to it as "TB12" does.

Tom Brady spent 19 years with the New England Patriots.
PA

Since his career began with the New England Patriots, the quarterback donning number 12 has been at the centre of some of the most magical moments in NFL history.

Countless Super Bowl appearances, a bunch of MVPs and six shiny rings to go with it.

Oh, and let's not forget about that 28-3 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51.

It's no wonder he's dubbed already "The GOAT" by sports fans despite refusing to hang up the boots at the rip of age of a 43.

So when it came time for Brady to move on to the next stage of his football career, many assumed he'd take the number 12 with him wherever he ended up.

And when it was finally confirmed that he'd be joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, all eyes immediately turned to Chris Godwin.

Chris Godwin wore number 12 before Brady arrived in Tampa Bay.
PA

The wide receiver had worn number 12 for the Bucs ever since he was drafted back in 2017.

But according to the team's general manager Jason Licht, instead of kicking up a fuss Brady was more than happy to let Godwin keep it.

"After we had talked and we knew that this was gonna happen, I said, 'Hey, there's one other thing. It's a small thing but maybe a big thing," Licht said on the Peter King Podcast.

"We have a number 12 on our team and he's pretty good, Chris Godwin. What are you thinking about that?'

"And he said 'Oh, he's a great player, I'm not going to take his number. Know what number I'm thinking of? I'm thinking of taking maybe number 7. Is that available?'"

"I said, 'Yeah, I think it is, why 7?' He goes, 'Going after that 7th Super Bowl.'"

Licht then explained that Godwin ended up swapping to number 14 so that Brady could be "TB12" once again.

Besides, Brady co-founded a health and wellness company named - you guessed it - TB12.

Contrary yo popular belief, athletes clearly care a lot about the number that sits on their back.

But in this case, not getting to wear the number 7 jersey for the Buccaneers clearly didn't stand the way of Brady's goal of "going after that 7th Super Bowl."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: American Football, Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL, Australia, super bowl