Brady-Bündchen Divorce Bombshell — Secret Letter Revealed and the Three Words That Ended it All
A forthcoming biography of Tom Brady claims his continued pursuit of football greatness placed years of pressure on his marriage to Gisele Bündchen before their 2022 divorce.
“Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness,” written by bestselling sports author Lars Anderson, is scheduled for release Tuesday.
Anderson based the biography on more than 350 interviews with Brady’s friends, former teammates, coaches and other people from his professional and personal circles. The author did not receive direct access to Brady or Bündchen.
The book claims Bündchen repeatedly encouraged Brady to retire as his demanding football schedule left her feeling responsible for much of the couple’s family life.
After Brady led the New England Patriots to their historic comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in 2017, Bündchen reportedly asked whether he believed it was the right moment to leave football.
Brady initially avoided answering, according to the biography. When Bündchen raised the question again later that night, he allegedly told her he was having too much fun to retire.
The book says Bündchen later asked former NFL kicker Jay Feely, one of Brady’s former Michigan teammates, to persuade the quarterback that retiring would be an important decision for his family. Feely instead advised Brady to continue playing for as long as he wanted.
In 2018, Bündchen reportedly wrote Brady a handwritten letter explaining that their marriage was not working.
She allegedly asked Brady to become more present at home, spend additional time helping with their children and give her more freedom to pursue her own career.
The couple attended marriage counseling, according to the biography. Brady reportedly kept the letter in a drawer and reread it periodically as a reminder that his marriage required the same attention he devoted to football.
The family moved from Massachusetts to Florida after Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.
Brady announced his retirement from the NFL on Feb. 1, 2022, after 22 seasons. He reversed that decision 40 days later and returned to Tampa Bay for another season.
The biography portrays that reversal as a major turning point in the marriage.
Bündchen initially expressed public support for Brady’s return, but the book claims she later traveled to Costa Rica as their relationship deteriorated.
When Brady reported for training camp, coaches and teammates were reportedly alarmed by his appearance. Several people interviewed by Anderson estimated that the quarterback had lost nearly 20 pounds, according to the Daily Mail.
Former Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians attributed the weight loss to stress from Brady’s personal problems. Other staff members reportedly feared Brady could be suffering from a serious illness.
Brady later received an unprecedented 11-day absence from training camp. The book claims he traveled to the Bahamas in a final attempt to repair his marriage.
The effort reportedly failed, and Brady returned appearing emotionally depleted.
One person quoted in the biography claimed Bündchen eventually told Brady, “We’re not compatible,” as she ended the relationship.
Brady and Bündchen finalized their divorce on Oct. 28, 2022, after 13 years of marriage. Both described the decision as amicable and emphasized their commitment to raising their children together.
Neither Brady nor Bündchen has independently confirmed the private conversations and scenes described in Anderson’s biography.
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