The biggest loser of Tom Brady’s retirement (outside the NFC South) is no longer the person who won the ball off his “last” touchdown pass in auction hours before it was announced the quarterback was returning.
According to The Action Network’s Darren Rovell, a settlement has been reached to cancel the $518,000 sale of Brady’s ball at auction last month.
The ball was available after Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans threw it in the stands in Brady’s final game, a loss to eventual champions Los Angeles Rams in the NFC division round. Whoever caught the ball is believed to have auctioned it off after Brady announced his retirement.
The ball sold at auction house Lelands for more than half a million dollars, with bidding closing on the night of March 12. The unnamed buyer probably felt great about his purchase for a few hours, but Brady’s announcement the following afternoon reportedly took that excitement out of the air.
Tom Brady’s ‘last’ TD football sparked instant regret
According to Rovell, the buyer’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, said they were “really mortified” to hear the news of the retirement cancellation and understandably wanted Lelands to cancel the sale.
The buyer reportedly had two things going for him. First, they never actually paid Lelands for the ball, they just won it at auction, and second, Lelands had clearly described the ball in his listing as “Tom Brady’s last touchdown pass football,” which is no longer true.
From the action network:
“It was an honest description at the time,” Lichtman said. “Had they called it his last, there would have been little recourse until now. But the way they described it, it was final.”
The ball has reportedly since been returned to its shipper, the fan who caught the ball and is likely not too keen on Brady’s inability to hang up his cleats.
Tom Brady’s retirement has been uncomfortable for a number of reasons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)