Tom Brady sends ‘terrifying’ message to the women who could replace Gisele Bundchen
Children and work dominate his life as he reflects on a difficult final season.
Tom Brady spent more than two decades structuring almost every part of his life around football. Retirement has changed the setting, but not necessarily the pace.
The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback says his schedule remains packed with work, business commitments and time with his children, leaving little room for much else.
“I don't have much time for a personal life or much time for myself, but I love working and I love my kids,” Brady told PEOPLE.
That admission comes years after his 2022 divorce from Gisele Bundchen , a split that prompted widespread speculation over whether his decision to continue playing football had strained their marriage.
Brady has never reduced the breakup to one cause, and Bundchen has also pushed back on the idea that football alone explained what happened.
Still, the 49-year-old has acknowledged that his final season came during an unusually difficult period away from the field.
Priorities shifted at the end of career
Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Brady reflected on why retirement finally made sense after 23 NFL seasons.
“I had 23 years of [football] so I didn’t think I was missing anything, retiring,” Brady said. “I felt like I always had a goal... 45.
"I was 45 years old, I wanted to spend time with my kids, 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.”
He also admitted that his final year didn't end the way he would have wanted.
“I felt like I owed to my teammates and coaches to give them everything I had,” Brady said. “I wish it could have been a little bit better at the end. But it was just a unique situation and a unique year for me.”
That season coincided with his divorce from Bundchen , who later told Vanity Fair that the reasons behind their split were more complicated than outside speculation suggested.
“Things were not so black and white,” Bundchen admitted.
Brady says staying busy still gives him purpose Retirement has not brought much slowing down.
“I like to be busy and try to really stay fulfilled in the things I'm doing, so I'm working on some really cool projects and I'm involved with some great teams of people that are doing some really positive things,” Brady added.
He has remained closely tied to football through media work and his ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders , while also becoming increasingly involved in business ventures.
That includes taking a personal interest in Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza .
Brady recently bought a one-of-one rookie card featuring Mendoza ’s first NFL autograph, calling the purchase an investment in what he hopes will be a successful era for Las Vegas.
“I know how hard he works,” Brady said. “He's got a great family and he's coming to a great environment for success.”
Football may no longer consume every Sunday, but Brady ’s priorities remain familiar. The difference now is that he appears more willing to admit just how little space that leaves for anything else.
