TAMPA, Fla. -- Eleven months ago, it was inconceivable that quarterback Tom Brady would choose, of all teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to continue his football journey.
Equally implausible was that this partnership -- forged in an offseason ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, with little time to connect with new teammates or master a new playbook -- would yield Brady's 10th Super Bowl appearance and seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy.
At the age of 43. On his home turf at Raymond James Stadium.
But on Sunday night, playing in front of the first hometown crowd in Super Bowl history and 7,500 health care workers, Brady and the Buccaneers defeated Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 31-9, giving the Bucs their second Lombardi trophy.