Tom Brady Breaks His Silence on Gisele Bündchen Divorce: 'It Was a Challenge'

NFL legend Tom Brady went through a high-profile divorce with supermodel Gisele Bündchen back in 2022, ending their 13-year marriage. Brady confirmed the separation with a statement on social media at the time, but he hasn't spokenmuch about it since.

During a recent interview, however, Brady broke his silence on the divorce as he opened up a bit about how it impacted him on and off the field as he tried to navigate his final season in the NFL.

Tom Brady Announced Divorce in 2022

After weeks of reports, rumors, and speculation regarding the status of their relationship, Brady finally confirmed that he and Bündchen "amicably" decided to end their marriage, "with gratitude for the time we spent together."

“In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage,” Brady wrote in a statement on social media back in 2022. “We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together. We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way. We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve.

“We arrived at this decision to end our marriage after much consideration,” Brady’s statement continued. “Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world. However, we wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written.”

Brady closed his statement by asking for "privacy and respect" as they navigated the new dynamic, and he largely avoided talking about the situation after that.

Brady Addresses the 'Family Issue'

In the months and years following the divorce, Brady has remained mostly silent on the high-profile divorce. However, during a recent appearance on Fox Sports' The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Brady opened up a bit about it in some rare and candid comments.

"My last season was tough," Brady admitted. "I was going through — I had a lot of, you know, just a personal, family issue, and it was a challenge. It was very … it just took a lot out of me in terms of, you know, my ability to continue to play."

After that difficult season, Brady ultimately decided it was time to retire to spend more time with his children.

"I had 23 years of (playing in the NFL), so I didn’t feel like I was missing anything, retiring. I felt like, ‘OK, this time I always had a goal — 45.’ I was 45 years old. I wanted to spend time with my kids, I felt like, 'OK, now it’s time for me to be at all my kids' games.' They’ve been to enough of their dad’s games."

It's now been over three years since Brady and Bündchen separated. Bündchen has since welcomed a child with her new partner, jiujitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, while Brady has not gone public with a new romance.