49ers-Saints pregame: Tom Brady makes his return for Fox rehearsal

SANTA CLARA — The last time Tom Brady was on the Levi’s Stadium field, he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the 49ers in Brock Purdy’s first career start, and, afterward, Dre Greenlaw bravely got Brady to sign the footballs Greenlaw and Tashaun Gipson intercepted.

Well, Brady made his return Sunday, showing up for a dress rehearsal as he embarks on his Fox Sports broadcasting career.

Brady will be practicing his analysis off the air while the 49ers host the New Orleans Saints in a preseason game. Brady and Fox partner Kevin Burkhardt will be calling the game in a fourth-floor, open-air box while the live broadcast duties fall on Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez and Kristina Pink.

About two hours before kickoff, Brady stood behind the south end zone and chatted up Frank Gore, the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher who is in his second season as a personnel analyst for the franchise.

Also greeting Brady was Mick Lombardi, a 49ers senior offensive assistant who served as the New England Patriots’ assistant quarterbacks coach in 2018, which was Brady’s final season in New England before concluding his career with the Bucs from 2020-22.

Brady milled about with several players on the field before kickoff, including the Saints’ Alvin Kamara and the 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga, who jogged around but is on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Brady, 47, is a San Mateo native and Serra High product. He’s also a seven-time Super Bowl champion who the 49ers considered signing in 2020 and again in 2023.

In Brady’s final Bay Area appearance, he completed 34-of-55 passes for 253 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a 35-loss on Dec. 11, 2022; Purdy was 16-of-21 for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

AIYUK’S UNKOWN STATUS 

General manager John Lynch arrived at Levi’s Stadium a couple of hours before kickoff and had no news to share, including the contract standoff with Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t participated in any of the 17 practices at training camp. Aiyuk requested a trade before camp and a potential deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers remains on hold.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in an interview with SteelerNation.com: “Here’s what I can tell about what the situation is: the 49ers don’t know what’s going to happen with Brandon Aiyuk. The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t know what’s going to happen with Brandon Aiyuk. The Cleveland Browns don’t know what’s going to happen with Brandon Aiyuk. The New England Patriots bowed out; they know he’s not going there.”

SITTING IT OUT

Among the 49ers who won’t be suiting up against the Saints: Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, the entire starting defensive line (Nick Bosa, Malik Collins, Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd), Fred Warner, Jordan Mason, Deommodore Lenoir, Charvarius Ward.

Safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum will pay.

PRESEASON SLATE

This game marked the 49ers first since their last victory: Levi’s Stadium, site of last season’s NFC Championship Game comeback win over the Detroit Lions.

Having opened their preseason last Saturday in Tennessee with a 17-13 loss to the Titans, the 49ers will play their third and final exhibition Friday against the Raiders in Las Vegas, citing of last season’s Super Bowl finale.