Tom Brady could be joined by former team-mate if he returns to New England Patriots

The greatest of all-time continues to be linked with a poetic return to the New England Patriots, but should Tom Brady return he may be joined by a familiar face. Brady is expected to leave Tampa Bay Buccaneers when his contract expires at the end of the season, and could return to the place where he won six Super Bowl rings.

The future of Brady is still up in the air, especially after he initially retired at the start of the year.

Brady called time on his NFL career after the 2021 season, a decision he quickly reversed due to his love of the game, and his Buccaneers team-mates. The 45-year-old was then tipped to retire after one final year, but it's been speculated that Brady could keep going, with teams still interested.

The Patriots are always linked with an emotional return for Brady, especially as the young Mac Jones is yet to evolve as the finished article. But Brady has been told by former team-mate Danny Amendola that he would come out of retirement if the quarterback went back to his former side.

With Brady reversing his retirement at the start of the year, some of his former team-mates have since been asked if they would follow suit. Rob Gronkowski has made it pretty clear he's happily retired, but Amendola hinted that he could step back onto the field.

Amendola appeared on “The Herd” on Wednesday and was asked by the host Colin Cowherd if he’d step out of retirement if Brady came returned to the Patriots "Absolutely," Amendola told Cowherd. "Tom’s done a lot for me and if he needs me, I’d always play for Tom.

"You know I’m happy not playing. I got enough football, I played for 14 years in the NFL. Played a lot of football. My knees feel better on Monday this year watching football from the couch. But of course, if Tom called, yeah, definitely I’d have to go back. If he summoned me out of retirement."

Amendola is still only 37, and retired at the Houston Texans in 2021 as a two-time Super Bowl Champion. Amendola has Brady and a talented Patriots side to thank for those honours, as he was with the organisation between 2013-2017.

Their bond grew strong after five seasons, and Amendola is still clearly fond of Brady - as is anyone who's played under the veteran. However, there's no inclination that Brady will return, not to play anyway.

Brady may well retire, he may well extend at the Buccaneers, or perhaps he could become up for grabs once more. He's expected to retire as a Patriot, but we will have to see if he will do anything more with the franchise.