Tom Brady will play against the Cleveland Browns for what will likely be the last time on Sunday, but there was once a real chance the NFL legend could have called the Ohio franchise his home.
Back in 2020, Brady's future was up in the air after a long and draining relationship with Bill Belichick looked to be coming to an end. The legendary quarterback had spent 20 years in New England with the Patriots, and all signs suggested he was ready for a change.
In the end, he ended up leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he remains one Super Bowl and one faux-retirement later. However, if Josh McDaniels' future had gone a different way, there's every chance Brady's could have as well.
The Cleveland Browns were at a crossroads back in January 2020. After yet another disappointing season, the franchise needed to make a significant change with fairly immediate effect, so decided to change their head coach.
At the time, Patriots offensive coordinator McDaniels was at the top of their wishlist, having impressed at the Pats for the last 20 years (on and off) under Belichick.
Due to the fact McDaniels had worked so closely with Brady as quarterback coach as the pair picked up six Super Bowl rings together, it seemed a legitimate possibility that Brady would follow him wherever he ended up going, leading to heavy rumours he would go to Cleveland.
It seemed like such a strong eventuality that, at one point, Vegas oddsmakers had the Browns as favourites to seal his signature if he left the Patriots.
The Browns had a solid offensive line at the time, including wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry, in front of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was still early in his career.
Signing Brady would have meant relegating Mayfield from his position as a starter to open up the spot for the six-time Super Bowl winner, an idea that seemed like a stroke of genius.
Mayfield, 24 at the time, would have been able to sit on the bench and learn from Brady, before eventually taking over as starting QB slot whenever Brady decided to ride off into the sunset.
As it turned out, McDaniels decided against leaving New England, instead sealing a deal to return to the Patriots, where he remained until taking the top job at the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady, meanwhile, decided to leave for Tampa Bay, and will return to the FirstEnergy Stadium to remind the franchise what they missed out on.
