Despite Tom Brady 's return from NFL retirement last year contributing to his divorce from ex-wife Gisele Bundchen, he has pledged to spend "the next 45 years" involved in the NFL as a broadcaster and team co-owner.
But Brady admits he must now balance his love for American football with his responsibilities as a father of three children — two with Bundchen and one with actress Bridget Moynahan. He missed Christmas last year to compete for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an example of the conflicting motivations that have sometimes overshadowed family life.
Since his final NFL game on January 16, 2023, the future Hall of Fame quarterback has taken 13-year-old Benjamin and 10-year-old Vivian to Disney World and Brazil. He's accompanied all three of his kids, including 15-year-old Jack, to Greece for vacation, making the most of his time before he enters the TV studio with Fox Sports.
"I'm looking forward to my broadcasting job at FOX next year," Brady told Sports Illustrated. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders and were in the process of that along with the other different things I'm a part of professionally and in my personal life — just spending as much time with my kids as I can and seeing them grow up and support the different things that they have going on, and that's a very important job and I take them all pretty seriously."
He added to ESPN : "Being a dad is the greatest responsibility I have."
The 45-year-old's eldest, Jack, is set on playing sports — but probably not American football. He prefers basketball and lacrosse, confessed Moynahan, who dated Brady from 2004-06 and co-parents the boy.
Benjamin, the middle child, doesn't care much for sport at all. Brady is accepting of that.
"The reality is that Benny just likes different things," Brady explained to Men's Health. "And it's great because now I just have to go do what he wants to do. When we do that, we have the best time. He's like, 'OMG, Dad, you're so funny.' He loves joking, and I joke back."
Meanwhile, Vivian is the lone daughter of Brady's household, which the former New England Patriots legend appreciates. She enjoys yoga and meditation like her mother, while she bonded with her father last month over adopting cats.
"I grew up in a house with three sisters," Brady told ESPN. "I think it's great for my boys to have a girl in the house, just to understand at least a little bit about what makes a woman tick — not that I can certainly figure that out, because I can't. She's a beautiful little girl."
On the cats, he added: "She finds a way to get what she wants, so Vivi wins again."
While Brady intends to stay involved with the NFL for the rest of his life, his off-field roles will take up less time. He'll need to be on-air as a broadcaster once a week. When he receives final approval to join the Las Vegas Raiders' ownership group, he will also attend to business matters.
However, that commitment pales in comparison to gruelling NFL workouts and all-consuming game preparation as a player, which upset Bundchen and contributed to their split.
"This is a very violent sport, and I have my children, and I would like him to be more present," said his ex-wife in 2022 in a venting session after he came out of retirement. "Ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.
"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."
Brady, who has admitted he didn’t always prioritise family in the past, hopes to be better going forward. After spending 23 seasons in the NFL, he will try to achieve the right balance between three kids and the sport he’ll never leave behind.
"Being a Dad is the best thing in my life. I have learned so much about what it takes from my Dad and to be able to pass that on to Jack, Benny and Vivi means the world to me," Brady wrote in a Father's Day message on Instagram this year.
"Their love for others and constant selflessness makes me so proud to be their dad, and I know those traits come directly from everyone who is part of their life."
