Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady says he plans to spend a lot of time with family to figure out his future - ESPN

Tom Brady says family will play a major role in determining whether he will return to play in the NFL next season.

-- Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady indicated Monday that family will play a substantial role in determining whether he will return to play next season.

"I think as I've gotten older, I think the best part is, is football is extremely important in my life, and it means a lot to me, and I care a lot about what we're trying to accomplish as a team and I care a lot about my teammates," Brady said on his "Let's Go!" podcast with Jim Gray.

"I'm gonna spend some time with them and give them what they need, 'cause they've really been giving me what I need the last six months to do what I love to do.

And I'm gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what's next.".

His oldest, Jack, is 14 years old and lives with his mother, actress Bridget Moynahan, in New York, and Brady sees him as much as he can.

The team expressed a strong desire for Brady to return but has encouraged him to take all the time he needs and will look at contingency plans in the event he decides not to come back.

"I would say I'm proud and satisfied of everything we accomplished this year, so I know when I give it my all, that's something to be proud of," Brady said?

There's a long time between now and the start of next football season.

And at the same time, I would say this, we never know what's gonna happen in the future.

We think we're gonna play forever?

And, you know, in the meantime I'm gonna do as best I can to enjoy, you know, the time that I have not playing football.

"So when the time comes to think about post-career and second career, I'll think about those things.

Instead, Brady signed with the Bucs in 2020, took them to the postseason for the first time in 13 years and led the franchise to its second Super Bowl 18 years after its first

The Bucs came up short this season, though, as Brady's team failed to advance in the divisional round for just the fourth time in his career