Four years after their high-profile separation, new details have emerged regarding the 2022 divorce of NFL legend Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen. According to upcoming biographical reporting from author Lars Anderson in his book Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness, the couple’s 13-year marriage faced severe friction driven by Brady’s unrelenting dedication to professional football, culminating in a handwritten letter delivered by Bündchen in 2018.
The 2018 Handwritten Letter and Family Pressures
The biographical text outlines that tension within the household escalated significantly following the New England Patriots’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2018 Super Bowl. According to book excerpts published by the Daily Mail, Bündchen handed Brady a serious handwritten note to communicate that their marriage was struggling.
“She needed more of him, more of his time, more of his attention, more of his heart,” Anderson writes in the book, which is scheduled for release on September 29. Bündchen reportedly urged her husband to be genuinely present when at home rather than distracted by text messages on his phone or mentally replaying games. The model also sought more assistance with raising their children—Benjamin, now 16, and Vivian, 13—along with adequate time to pursue her own career milestones.
Imbalances in Career and Schedule
Throughout their marriage, Bündchen frequently voiced a desire for Brady to step away from the gridiron. Anderson notes that following the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory in 2017, Bündchen asked if it was an appropriate moment for the quarterback to retire. Brady reportedly responded, “Too bad, babe. I’m having too much fun right now.”
An anonymous former teammate of Brady told the author that Bündchen felt fatigued by living strictly according to the quarterback’s schedule and operating in his shadow during the football season, noting that she was an established international star in her own right. While the couple attempted to mend their relationship through couples counseling, the strain persisted. Anderson reports that Brady kept the 2018 letter in a drawer, occasionally rereading it on quiet nights to remind himself to balance his athletic career with domestic commitments.
Retirement Conflicts and the Final Split
The push and pull surrounding football ultimately came to a head in 2022. Brady announced his retirement from the NFL in February 2022, only to reverse his decision 40 days later and return for one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to the book’s accounts, Bündchen ultimately told Brady they were “not compatible” according to their astrology charts, marking a definitive turning point.
On October 28, 2022, the couple officially announced the finalization of their divorce after 13 years of marriage, emphasizing in joint statements that their children remained their primary focus. Representatives for both Brady and Bündchen did not respond to requests for comment regarding the book’s disclosures.
Life After the Separation
In the years following their split, both individuals have established separate paths. Bündchen maintained a relationship with jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, whom she married in December 2025, and welcomed a child with him in early 2025.
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