In our good year 2025, the last thing we expected to find was a personal blog written by none other than pro athlete, Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champion penned a candid piece about parenting for his 199 newsletter—and seemingly threw shade at his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, in the process.
In his installment published on Tuesday, July 29, Tom reflected on the highs and lows of professional football and how the sport made him a “great parent” to his three children. He shares Benjamin and Vivian with Gisele, while his oldest son, Jack, is shared with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.
“I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family,” he wrote, in part. “I chose to do it by playing football.”
He added, “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.”
The former New England Patriots quarterback then seemingly made a dig at Gisele, explaining that “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.”
He continued, “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.”
Tom and Gisele were married for 13 years before finalizing their divorce in October 2022. Earlier that same year, he retired for a total of 40 days before returning to the field for another season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2023 season.
The former Victoria’s Secret angel, who is now linked to Miami-based jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, was reportedly disappointed in Tom’s decision to reverse his retirement. She opened up about how it shifted their family dynamic during her September 2022 Elle cover story, saying, “This is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present.”
Gisele added that she “definitely had those conversations with him over and over again,” saying, “I’ve done my part, which is [to] be there for [my husband]. 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.”
