NFL rumors: 49ers took hard pass on free-agent QB Tom Brady

According to a report from NBC Sports’ Chris Simms, the San Francisco 49ers elected to say ‘no’ to pending free-agent quarterback Tom Brady, likely ending what has been some lengthy speculation.

Again, the San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to be bringing aboard pending free-agent quarterback Tom Brady in 2020.

This, according to a Sunday report from NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms:

“It was Tom Brady’s No. 1 choice,” Simms said. “That is not going to happen. In my understanding, Tom Brady’s number one choice was to go to San Francisco and be the starting quarterback.”

Yet the Niners ultimately decided to pass on the future Hall of Famer, who will turn 43 years old this August.

“I don’t know what happened,” Simms continued. “But something happened in the last few days, to my understanding, to find out that the 49ers are out on Tom Brady, and they will be standing pat with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback.”

The Niners have been linked to Brady for much of the offseason, stemming from a number of speculative reports often suggesting the two entities would be a perfect match amid Brady’s pending free agency departure from the New England Patriots and San Francisco’s apparent desire — again, speculative — to move on from Garoppolo after the latter’s less-than-impressive performance late in Super Bowl LIV.

Yet just how much of this speculation was based in fact is up for debate.

General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have gone on record supporting Garoppolo even after the 49ers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Despite this, many within mainstream media have suggested a Brady-Niners pairing would be ideal, considering Brady’s favorite team growing up was San Francisco.

According to this latest report, however, no such instance will occur this offseason.

This might not end all talk about Garoppolo being the long-term figurehead under center for Shanahan. There’s some talk Shanahan might want to pursue Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2021, although there’s an entire year of evidence to be determined between now and that argument from coming to fruition.

For now, Brady’s potential landing spots in 2020 appear to be drying up. There was an argument he could land with the Tennessee Titans, reuniting with his former Patriots teammate, now-Tennesse head coach Mike Vrabel. But the Titans just re-signed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a lucrative four-year deal, so that possibility is off the table.

Simms also reported the remaining suitors for Brady’s services are the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In short, and perhaps the most important part of all this, Brady won’t be suiting up with the Niners in 2020. That job still belongs to Garoppolo.