Terrell Owens: ‘Tom Brady Ignored Me When I Offered to Replace Antonio Brown on Bucs’

NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens was interested in joining Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late during the 2021 season when Antonio Brown had a meltdown during a Week 17 matchup with the New York Jets.

Terrell Owens reached out to Tom Brady through Randy Moss in the 2021 season; Brady never responded

That same day on Jan. 2, 2022, he posted “#PLAYOFFTO @Buccaneers” on X. Two and a half years later, Owens is blaming Brady for the Bucs not signing him when they had the chance.

During a recent appearance on “The Bubba Dub Show,” Owens said he used Randy Moss as an intermediary in an attempt to reach Brady late into the 2021 season.

“Tom Brady ignored me, bro,” he said at the 39:25 mark. “At that point in time, it was at the end of the season. I didn’t need to play a full season. They just needed somebody to fill some holes with AB leaving at the receiver position.

“The year that AB went crazy . . . they just needed somebody to fill some holes with AB leaving at the receiver position. I reached out to him through Randy and some other people, just to come in and play third down and red zone situations.

“This dude ignored me. It just shows you the lack of respect there, but then when they get in front of you, they want to act like they respect you.”

Owens was 48 years old at the time

Terrell Owens said he was willing to be used primarily on third downs and inside the red zone. The five-time first-team All-Pro also believed the Buccaneers might’ve won the Super Bowl that year had they signed him.

Tampa Bay’s receiving corps was hemorrhaging heading into the playoffs after Brown quit in Week 17. Chris Godwin had suffered a torn ACL before that in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.

Perhaps Owens could have made a touchdown or two in the postseason. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2001, 2002, and 2006. The former 6-foot-3 wideout retired as a six-time Pro Bowler as well.

However, Owens was 48 years old at the time. Had the Buccaneers signed him, how long would he have been able to play without getting injured?

At age 40, Jerry Rice became the oldest player to make a touchdown reception in a Super Bowl. Had Tampa Bay advanced to Super Bowl LVI, Owens would have had the chance to break some of Rice’s records.