Tom Brady makes highly-anticipated return to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady made his highly-anticipated return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp Monday. 

The Bucs quarterback has been away from the team since earlier this month as he took a team-approved sabbatical to tend to ‘personal issues’. 

On August 11 head coach Todd Bowles announced that Brady’s absence had been scheduled before training camp began.

At the time the only hint given as to when Brady would return was that it would be after the Bucs second preseason game, which was against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. 

The 45-year-old has now returned to the team’s facility and practiced later on Monday.

There had been much speculation around Brady’s mysterious absence, including a wild theory on Reddit that he was participating in the Masked Singer. 

But on Sunday, the Pro Football Network reported that the seven-time Super Bowl champion enjoyed a Bahamian getaway at an exclusive resort ‘primarily for family time with his wife, Gisele Bundchen.’ 

The 45-year-old has now returned to the team’s facility and practiced later on Monday

The quarterback, pictured with wife Gisele Bundchen, was absent due to ‘personal reasons’

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport also suggested that the absence was related to his desire for a ‘work-life balance’. 

‘No one is worried, he’s fine,’ Rapoport said during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

‘To my knowledge, it is not a medical emergency related to him or I believe anyone close to him. I was told everything is OK. The best description I got about this is that it’s important to find a work-life balance.’

Brady spent the offseason with his wife Gisele and their children, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, nine, and his son Jack, 14, who he shares with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

Brady pictured with Gisele and his children Jack, 14, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, nine

He previously spoke about spending more time with his family as he claimed it pained his wife to see him get hit. 

Speaking on his podcast, Let’s Go!, in January he said: ‘It pains her to see me get hit out there, and she deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad. 

‘I’m gonna spend some time with them and give them what they need, because they’ve really been giving me what I need the last six months — to do what I need to do and I said this a few years ago. 

‘It’s what relationships are all about. It’s not always about what I want. It’s about what we want as a family. And I’m gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what’s next.’

Brady is entering his 23rd season in the NFL after ending his 40-day retirement in March.