TAMPA, Fla. — Gisele Bündchen said she happily throttled back her modeling career to help raise a family while her quarterback husband chased Super Bowl rings.
Tom Brady retired from the NFL for 40 days last spring but returned to the league for his 23rd season.
Bündchen has been quiet about that decision, but in a cover story for Elle magazine’s October edition she said she is ready to pursue her fashion career and work as an environmentalist.
“I feel very fulfilled in a way, as a mother and as a wife,” Bündchen told Elle, in an interview conducted months ago that published Tuesday online. “And now it’s going to be my turn. It’s not like I’m going to be in the valley forever.”
When reached last month by Elle as a followup, Bündchen had no comment about Brady’s 11-day absence from training camp.
But Bündchen made it clear she has big concerns about Brady playing football at age 45.
“This is a very violent sport and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” Bündchen said. “Ultimately, I have my concerns, definitely have 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.”
Bündchen believes she has sacrificed to help raise the couple’s children.
“I’ve done my part, which is to be there for (Tom),” she said. “I moved to Boston (when he was with the Patriots) 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 beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed and be 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.”
But Bündchen isn’t done pursuing her dreams.
“I have a huge list of things that I have to do, that I want to do,” she said. “At 42, I feel more connected to my purpose.”
