Saying goodbye to professional sports is rarely easy – but for Tom Brady it was associated with a profound personal turning point. While his legendary career was coming to an end, his life off the field was also in flux: his relationship with supermodel Gisele Bündchen was falling apart. Today, the former NFL superstar gives insight into a time that challenged him more than any finale.
When Tom Brady, 48, finally announced his retirement from the NFL in February 2023, not only did one of the greatest careers in American sports history end. For the quarterback, this farewell came during a phase of difficult personal upheaval. The seven-time Super Bowl winner not only completed his last season on the field. At the same time, he also had to deal with a failed marriage. Today, Brady speaks openly about how upset that time was for him.
Tom Brady fell into financial difficulties during divorce
In an interview with “MLFootball”, the now 48-year-old looks back on his 23rd and final NFL season – and finds unusually honest words. “My last season was tough,” Brady admits to the sports portal. This is the first time he has clearly confirmed how much his personal stress influenced his sporting performance.
Behind the scenes, Brady was struggling with the consequences of his separation from supermodel Gisele Bündchen, 45. The couple divorced in October 2022, in the middle of the current season. “I had to struggle with a lot of personal family problems at the time,” explains the ex-sports professional. “And it was challenging, and it put a lot of… a lot of stress on me in terms of my ability to play.”
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Despite these circumstances, Brady decided to give it his all again. He actually announced his retirement in February 2022, but returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third season. Previously, he had shaped the club history of the New England Patriots for two decades.
Saying goodbye to football was a decision for his children
Brady emphasizes that the thought of quitting wasn’t a painful loss for him: “I played football for 23 years, so I didn’t think I’d miss anything if I retired.” Rather, he pursued a clear goal: “I was 45 years old and wanted to spend time with my children. I thought: Okay, now it’s time to be at all of my children’s games. They’ve already seen enough of their father’s games.”
Brady is the father of three children: Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13, come from his marriage to Bündchen, his eldest son Jack, 18, from his relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan, 54. His ex Gisele has now opened a new chapter: In February 2025, she had a son with her current husband, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainer Joaquim Valente.
He also makes it clear that Brady wanted to take responsibility despite his inner conflict. In his last season he “tried to put in as much as possible.” He continues: “I felt like I had an obligation to my teammates and coaches to give everything,” and he adds self-critically: “I wish things had gone a little better in the end. But it was just an extraordinary situation and an extraordinary year for me.”
Love life makes headlines
Today, Brady is also rearranging his priorities off the field. In a recent interview with People, he talked about his life after football and what’s really important to him now. “I don’t have a lot of time for a personal life or a lot of time for myself, but I love my work and I love my kids,” Brady said, adding, “I like to stay busy and try to find real fulfillment in the things that I do. That’s why I work on some really cool projects and am involved in some great teams of people who are doing really positive things.”
Brady still makes headlines with his private life. At the turn of the year he was seen in an intimate mood with the influencer Alix Earle, 25, at a New Year’s Eve party in St. Barthélemy. recordings of the two, which include “TMZ”, spread quickly on social networks. The ex-footballer was previously linked to model Brooks Nader, 28, in 2024. However, a source told People in July of the same year that it was just a non-binding flirtation.
Sources used: MLFootball, people.com, tmz.com
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