American football legend Tom Brady has broken his silence on the profound personal struggles he faced during his final season in the NFL, directly linking his performance to his high-profile divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
A Personal Family Issue on the Field
Speaking candidly on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Thursday, the 48-year-old former quarterback reflected on the immense difficulty of the 2022-2023 season. Brady described navigating a "personal family issue" while playing what would become his last professional games after a storied 23-year career.
"It was a challenge, and it was very, it just took a lot out of me in terms of, you know, my ability to play," Brady admitted. He was referring to his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a period that coincided with his divorce from Bündchen after 13 years of marriage, which was announced in October 2022.
Balancing Legacy and Fatherhood
Despite the personal turmoil, Brady emphasised his commitment to his team. "I owed it to my teammates and coaches to give them everything I had," he stated, though he conceded, "I wish it could have been a little bit better at the end."
The seven-time Super Bowl champion also explained his ultimate decision to retire for good in February 2023, after a brief un-retirement the previous year. He had long aimed to play until age 45, a goal he achieved. "I wanted to spend time with my kids," Brady said. "I felt like, okay, now it’s time for me to be at all my kids’ games. They’ve been to enough of their dad’s games."
Brady and Bündchen share two children: Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13. Brady also has an 18-year-old son, Jack, from his previous relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan.
Life After the Split: New Beginnings for Both
The aftermath of the divorce has seen both parties move forward. Bündchen, 45, married her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente, in December 2025. The couple had welcomed a baby boy nearly a year prior. She has strongly denied rumours that her relationship with Valente began before her divorce was final, calling such claims a harmful stereotype faced by women leaving unhealthy relationships.
Meanwhile, Brady was recently spotted with influencer Alix Earle at a New Year's Eve party, sparking dating speculation. However, the sports commentator has since downplayed these rumours, telling People magazine that his focus remains on work and his children, with little time for a personal life.
Brady's revelations offer a rare glimpse into the intense personal sacrifice behind professional athletic excellence, highlighting how even the most decorated careers can be profoundly shaped by off-field challenges.
