Rich Eisen: “If I told you that you would be the head coach of Tom Brady at some point in your career, what would you have said to that?”
Bruce Arians: “When did I die and how did I get back?? Never did I think he would leave New England… I can’t sleep much. I can’t wait to get started.” (Full Interview Above)
Listen to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians detail to Rich Eisen how the Tom Brady signing went down, as the six-time Super Bowl champion who became one of the most fascinating free agents in sports history made an unprecedented exodus from the Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Arians told Eisen that neither him nor Bucs general manager Jason Licht had even talked to Brady over the phone or in person until last Wednesday, when the NFL season officially opened. Wednesday was also the day that the two parties agreed on a two-year, $50 million deal with the 42-year-old.
Arians says signing Brady was the team’s number one priority in the off-season, and even added that the backup plan was to acquire the now-signed Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Arians says Jameis Winston was going to be the third option.
Check out the full interview above as Arians breaks down how the conversations went with one of the most heralded players in the history of athletics.