Tom Brady has seemingly taken a swipe at his supermodel ex-wife Gisele Bundchen in his latest newsletter about providing for his family.
The NFL great, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, split from his wife of 13 years in October 2023, months after dramatically reversing his decision to retire from football.
After their split was announced, Bundchen repeatedly alluded to her unhappiness at how much Brady focused on his sporting career at the cost of his family, with his unretirement said to be the tipping point.
Now, in a newsletter Brady has recently started writing to his fans, the 47-year-old has said that he viewed his career as a central part of being a good father to his three children.
‘I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family,’ Brady wrote. ‘I chose to do it by playing football.’
He continued: ‘My dedication to the sport, the hours of practice, the moments when I was laser focused – those were times when I believe I was doing the best possible thing for my family and my kids, by prioritizing my profession and teaching, by example, what it takes to be really good at your job, what it takes to follow through on commitments, what it takes to be a great teammate; and showing them, also by example, that work is a big part of all of our lives.’
Tom Brady pictured with ex-wife Gisele Bundchen and his family during happier times
The power couple divorced after months of speculation in 2022 after 13 years of marriage
Bundchen was unhappy that Brady reversed his retirement decision for another year in the NFL
Bundchen was said to have encouraged Brady to retire the first time around amid fears for his health in the game, as well as wanting them to spend more time together as a family.
‘Obviously, I have my concerns – this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,’ she told Ellein September 2022. ‘I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for (them). He needs to follow his joy, too.’
During his career, Brady had often spoken about how grateful he was for Bundchen’s role keeping their family together.
In October 2021, he said on his ‘Let’s Go’ podcast: ‘My wife has held down the house for a long time now, and I think there’s things that she wants to accomplish.’
Now, in his letter, Brady says: ‘Remember, your children are watching everything. They see what you do in every aspect of your life and how you do it.
‘Reading bedtime stories and helping them with homework are not the only ways to be a great parent. And neither is winning Super Bowls or MVPs.
‘Being a great football player didn’t make me a great dad, but how I became a great player certainly had an impact – from showing up day in and day out, to doing whatever it took to get better, be successful, be a role model, and to provide.’
Bundchen and Brady had two kids – Benjamin and Vivian – together, while Brady has another son, Jack, from a previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan.
Brady has now said that his football career was a key part of how he became a good father
A seven-time Super Bowl winner, Brady is widely accepted as the best to ever play in the NFL
Bundchen also said in that September 2022 interview: ‘I’ve done my part, which is be there for Tom. I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams.
‘Seeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career – it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve done a good job on that.’
Brady would go on to play one more season in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring in 2023 after they lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys.
He finished his letter by saying: ‘You won’t be perfect. Nobody is. You will fail and disappoint people along the way. But if you stay committed to your goals over time, even when your priorities shift (which they do at times), then you can be confident that you are living a life of integrity and purpose.
‘Your actions reflect your priorities. That’s what you need to live up to everyday.’
Speaking about their split in March 2023, Bundchen insisted she has no lingering animosity towards Brady, telling Vanity Fair: ‘I have always cheered for him, and I would continue forever.
‘If there’s one person I want to be the happiest in the world, it’s him, believe me. I want him to achieve and to conquer. I want all his dreams to come true. That’s what I want, really, from the bottom of my heart.’
But there have been some tough moments between the two in the years since their split – notably when Brady was repeatedly taunted on his Netflix Roast about Bundchen moving on with her jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, who she has since had a baby with.
Kevin Hart, who opened the roast, piled in on Brady and Bundchen’s breakup, saying: ‘You sometimes got to f*** your coach,’ the actor said. ‘You know who else f***ed their coach? Gisele. She f***ed that karate man.’
Since retiring, Brady has become an NFL analyst on a lucrative $375million deal with Fox
According to People, Bundchen was left fuming at the jokes.
‘As always, [Bundchen’s] priority is to support her children who were affected by the irresponsible content that was broadcasted,’ the insider said.
Brady later admitted that he regretted the impact the show had on his kids.
‘I loved when the jokes were about me. I thought they were so fun,’ he said. ‘I didn’t like the way they affected my kids,’ he told The Pivot.
‘It was the bittersweet aspect of when you’re doing something you think is one way and then you realize I wouldn’t do that again because of the way it affected the people I care about the most in the world.
‘It makes you in some ways a better parent going through it because sometimes you’re naïve.’
Since retiring for good, Brady has become an NFL analyst for Fox on a 10-year, $375million deal.