49ers' Jimmie Ward doubts Tom Brady will come out of retirement

At this point, an NFL fan would likely have to be actively avoiding rumors to not know seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady has been linked with a trade that would allow him to play for the San Francisco 49ers, his favorite childhood team, through at least the 2022 season. For that to happen, Brady would have to convince the 49ers his previous retirement announcement wasn't a true farewell to the game, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have to send the 44-year-old's playing rights to San Francisco. 

Much like Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd, 49ers safety Jimmie Ward isn't buying what some are selling this winter. 

"I think some of the media is just using that for a story," Ward explained during an Instagram Live session, according to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I don't think Tom Brady is coming out of retirement." 

Ward added, though, that Brady coming out of retirement to play one more year doesn't sound "crazy" at this point of the offseason. 

"Didn't he come out with his speech, his retirement speech already? So, I don't know, man. I don't know, bro," Ward remarked. 

"Tom Brady, I'm not saying he can't do it. I feel like he can. He's proven it, that he can go to another franchise, and win a Super Bowl that year. ... But since he retired, I feel like that's sort of the same situation with Kobe Bryant. When he retired from the Lakers, all the media kept saying, 'Oh yeah, Kobe said he's not done. He's going to come back and play with LeBron [James].' But he never came back. He was retired. RIP." 

It was reported Wednesday that "it's not a lock" the 49ers will trade veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this spring, in part because 2021 rookie Trey Lance may not be ready to lead the club back to a conference championship appearance, let alone to the Super Bowl. This story sparked speculation some within the Niners may view Brady as an upgrade over Garoppolo and that San Francisco could send Jimmy G to Tampa Bay to land the G.O.A.T. before preseason games begin in August.