For months following the 2019 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't know if Tom Brady would be one of the possibilities behind "Door Number Two" as they planned how to move forward at the quarterback position. Once they realized it indeed was a possibility, Brady instantly became the top priority and the quarterback that Bruce Arians and Jason Licht would be the perfect fit.
"We do our due diligence every year after a season to see how we can better our football team and better our organization," said Arians, as the Buccaneers' head coach took part in Brady's introductory conference call on Tuesday. "We looked at everybody that might be available at the quarterback position, obviously really never dreaming that Tom would be available. But if he was, he was going to be our number-one choice, mainly because he can do everything we want to do in our offense. But more than that is his leadership ability that we need in our locker room to get where we want to go."
It might seem like a little bit of unnecessary hand-wringing to wonder if the man widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, who is still playing at a high level two decades into his career, would be a good "fit" for any offense. But, of course, it is a key part of any free agency acquisition to not only evaluate how good a player is but if his talents will help your team win. The Buccaneers know the answer to both questions with Brady, and it has nothing to do with his six Super Bowl rings or any of the other trophies on his mantel.
View pictures from QB Tom Brady's 6 Super Bowl victories.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts to a second-quarter touchdown play during Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL Super Bowl XXXVI game against the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) prepares to take the snap from center during an NFL Super Bowl XXXVI game against the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots offensive line fires off to block in front of quarterback Tom Brady (12) during an NFL Super Bowl XXXVI game against the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) rolls out to pass during Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) gets set to throw a pass during Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patroits Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates on the stand as Patriots owner Robert Kraft, right, makes his way across the stand after the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts after the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI Feb. 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady smiles during media day at Reliant Stadium in Houston Tuesday Jan. 27, 2004. The Patriots and Carolina Panthers meet in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady laughs during media day at Reliant Stadium in Houston Tuesday Jan. 27, 2004. The Patriots and Carolina Panthers face off in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Sunday Feb. 1 (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New England Patriots quarterback and game MVP Tom Brady (12) passes during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers, Feb. 1, 2004 in Houston. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots prepares to make a handoff during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 01, 2004 in Houston. The Patriots won 32-29. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots points out the defense during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 01, 2004 in Houston. The Patriots won 32-29. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) sets up to pass against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29 in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off to running back Antowain Smith in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl XXXVIII on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Reliant Stadium in Houston. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady makes his way through the crowd after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady smiles after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Feb. 1, 2004, a game widely considered one of the best Super Bowls. Brady was named MVP for the second time in three years after completing a record 32 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Kicker Adam Vinatieri again kicked the winning field goal in the final seconds, as he had two years earlier. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 01, 2004 in Houston. The Patriots won 32-29. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) completed 32 of 48 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns and was named Most Valuable Player, holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy while being interviewed by Jim Nantz after the Patriots 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas on February 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots Tom Brady plays against the Philadelphia Eagles in SUPERBOWL XXXIX at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots Tom Brady plays against the Philadelphia Eagles in SUPERBOWL XXXIX at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots Tom Brady plays against the Philadelphia Eagles in SUPERBOWL XXXIX at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
A general view from the endzone is seen as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots won 28-24. (AP Photo/Peter Read Miller)
FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes during the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Patriots won 28-24. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes during the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Patriots won 28-24. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks to throw the ball downfield during Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots won 28-24. (AP Photo/Peter Read Miller)
Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates during the second half of NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Glendale, Ariz. The Patriots won 28-24. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Feb. 1, 2015, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. ThePatriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls a play at the line of scrimmage during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) makes a call at the line of scrimmage during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady #12 in action against the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl 51 on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and center David Andrews (60) celebrate after the game-winning touchdown during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after the game-winning touchdown during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates while holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy following the Patriots' win in the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy following the Patriots' win in the NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
2017 AP YEAR END PHOTOS - New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game on Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) screams as he enters the stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) prepares to take the snap as the line up during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) hands the ball off to Rex Burkhead against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) looks to pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks to pass during NFL Super Bowl 53 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots defeated the Rams, 13-3. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) throw the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady #12 calls signals at the line against the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) celebrates a touchdown run by Sony Michel during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is interviewed by Jim Nantz after defeating the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman, left, and Tom Brady celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (Tom DiPace via AP)
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"Going after Tom in free agency was our number-one priority this offseason because we knew he'd be a perfect fit for what we're trying to do here," said Licht, the Buccaneers' general manager, who worked for the Patriots when they drafted Brady in 2000. "He's a Buccaneer today not for what he's done in the past but for what we know he can accomplish here in the near future as well. We know that Tom's going to have a transformative effect in our locker room and he's going to demand the best out of himself, his teammates and anybody that's around him."
Brady agrees that his many accolades will have little to do with how he is viewed as the Buccaneers quarterback and leader. Of course, all the information and experience he gathered while earning those accolades are a big reason why he and the team expect him to succeed in the second chapter of his career.
"Where I've been I've learned a great deal," he said. "As I move forward, I said the other day, no one cares what you've done in the past. They don't care what you did last year or five years ago or 10 years ago. I think hopefully the knowledge I've had from my experience playing quarterback will allow me to transition quickly. There's a lot of things I've got to get up to speed on, obviously learning different terminology. That's a unique challenge that I haven't faced but it's one that I'm looking forward to, also."
Brady said that he has paid quite a bit of attention to Bruce Arians and his offense through the years and has seen many different players and types of quarterbacks succeed in it. He called it a great offense for everybody in the huddle: the quarterback, receivers, tight ends and running backs. He knows that Arians has espoused his "no risk-it, no biscuit" offensive belief for a long time, but to him thriving in that offense takes the same approach as thriving in any other.
"Everybody has somewhat different styles and philosophies in how they call things and so forth," said Brady. "Football to me is about throwing the ball to the guy who's open, and if he's open deep that's where you throw it. If he's open short, you throw it there. If he's open outside, you throw it there. If they're open inside, that's where you throw it. You get the ball to the guys who can do something with it.
"There's some really talented players here on this offense that have very unique skillsets. It's really my responsibility…I have one ball, and I've got to be able to deliver that ball to the guy who can do something with it. There's a lot of ground to make up because I haven't worked with these players, and I'm going to have to learn what they do and their body language and how they like things."
The Bucs are not getting a less aggressive quarterback in Brady. The NFL's NextGen stats compiles a metric called "Aggressiveness" that "tracks the amount of passing attempts a quarterback makes that are into tight coverage, where there is a defender within one yard or less of the receiver at the time of completion or incompletion." It is displayed as a percentage of all the quarterback's throws that fall into this category.
Brady's "Aggressiveness" percentage in 2019 was 15.2%, which is not significantly lower than what the Bucs' previous quarterback, Jameis Winston (16.8%) had last year. It was also a higher percentage than those put up last year by 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson (14.7%), 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes (12.2%), 2011 and 2014 MVP Aaron Rodgers (14.2%) and the only man who is ahead of Brady on the NFL's all-time passing charts, Drew Brees (13.8%). Clearly Brady, like the other great quarterbacks in this paragraph, know how to be aggressive in a way that works.
Brady also had success throwing to all areas of the field in 2019 as he put up 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. NextGen Stats also has a chart that separates the field into 12 quadrants, with left, right and middle areas each for passes thrown deep, intermediate, short and behind the line of scrimmage. Brady's passer rating was well above average in five of those areas, including deep right and deep left. He was graded as within average on the rest. NextGen has this table from 2019 back through 2016 and Brady doesn't have a single "below average" quadrant in any of them. Indeed – throw it to the open man, deep or short, right or left.
Any concerns about Brady's fit in the Buccaneers' offense should also be assuaged by the iron-clad knowledge that he will grind as hard as possible to make it work. His work ethic is as legendary as his career numbers and he's clearly thrilled with this new challenge.
"I've been playing quarterback for a long time, and that's what I do: I watch film and I study. I try to learn, I try to grow, I try to evolve every year," said Brady. "I've watched this offense over a long period of time with a lot of different quarterbacks have a lot of success. There have been a lot of great players who have been a part of working with Coach Arians. Again, for me, it's for me to come in and understand the things I've got to learn to be successful within what we're all trying to do and what we collectively do well. It's not about what one player does well. Great offenses aren't about one player; great offenses are about every guy being on the same page and playing with confidence and anticipation."
