Tom Brady Stands by NFL Career as ‘Best Thing’ for His Family in Apparent Swipe at Ex Gisele Bundchen

Tom Brady is speaking out about his illustrious NFL career with pride, and how it helped him support his brood — remarks some believe may be subtly aimed at ex-wife Gisele Bündchen in the wake of their divorce.

“I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family,” the former New England Patriots legend, 47, wrote in his 199 newsletter released on Tuesday, July 29.

“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,” he continued.

Brady — who shares son Benjamin, 15, and daughter Vivian, 12, with the famed supermodel, 45, as well as son Jack, 17, with ex Bridget Moynahan — explained that being a great parent doesn’t only entail “reading bedtime stories and helping them with homework” nor just “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,” he continued.

As Star previously reported, Brady and Bündchen announced they had finalized their divorce after 13 years of marriage in October 2022, months after he first announced his retirement in February 2022.

Six weeks later, the seven-time Super Bowl champ unretired to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and reports surfaced claiming it was a tipping point in his relationship, with insiders alleging that Bündchen wanted Brady to focus more on his family life at this point in his career.

Brady notably played for the New England Patriots for 20 seasons before joining the Buccaneers and he often credited Bündchen for helping maintain a strong family unit during those years.

While breaking her silence on the matter, Bündchen denied giving Brady an ultimatum to retire from the NFL in a 2023 Vanity Fair cover story.

However, many fans have still questioned if that’s one of the main factors that ultimately led the couple to go their separate ways. Bündchen has since moved on with boyfriend Joaquim Valente and they welcomed a son in February 2025.

In his newsletter, Brady shed light on how he balanced family and career, explaining that “we all have different parts of our lives” — which he categorized in a pyramid.

“At the top is yourself, and your physical, mental, and emotional health. Then there’s the relationship with your significant other or partner,” the dad of three shared. “Then you have your children, then your work, then your extended family, your friends, your hobbies, and finally your greater community.”

“At any given moment, one of these priorities is taking precedence over the others,” Brady wrote. “And the question is always whether it’s the right priority for the moment.”