Bruce Arians reflects on Bucs' woes: 'It wasn’t the real Tom Brady out there'

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an especially uncharacteristic season for a team just two years removed from their Super Bowl LV victory, but for former head coach Bruce Arians, that had a lot to do with Tom Brady’s issues both on and off the field. 

Arians, who serves as a senior advisor for the team since retiring as coach in 2021, said on “The Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday that there were a number of contributing factors that played into the Bucs’ disappointing season that ended in a wild card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.  

Tom Brady, #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, takes the field before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8, 2023 in Atlanta. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

He noted that one of the biggest issues the Bucs faced last season was injuries to “key leaders” on the field, including center Ryan Jensen and All-Pro linebacker Shaq Barrett. 

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However, he also said that Brady “wasn’t himself,” seemingly referencing the veteran quarterback’s high profile divorce from Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen. 

“Tom wasn’t himself, you know, with all the things that were going on. And I got to give him all the credit in the world for battling through what he went through last year for his teammates. I think the world of him, but it wasn’t the real Tom Brady out there.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, #12, sits with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 16, 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brady and Bündchen announced their divorce in October after 13 years of marriage. 

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“We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together. We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way,” Brady said in a statement at the time. 

Months later he announced his retirement from the NFL after 23 years for a second time. 

Tom Brady, #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, screams in celebration after rushing for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Arians said he does not believe that Brady will be making another quick exit from retirement like he did in 2022, adding that the future Hall of Famer has moved onto the “next chapter” in his life. 

“He’ll be more than ready, he’ll do a great job,” Arians said of Brady’s next endeavor into broadcasting.