Family has always been extremely important to Tom Brady. The retired professional athlete told Men’s Health in 2019, “I’d wake up early on the weekends to do stuff with my dad. That’s why I didn’t party a lot. If Dad wanted to golf, I wanted to be there with him. And if I ever missed those things, it would crush me,” Brady confessed.
With three kids of his own, the former NFL quarterback has proven himself to be the ultimate family man, even when struggling to juggle his history-making career with his role as a father. In August 2007, Brady welcomed his firstborn, a son named Jack, with his ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan. Though they were no longer a couple at the time of their son’s arrival, the football player and actress have amicably co-parented for the entirety of Jack’s life.
A little over two years later, Brady and his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen welcomed their first child, Benjamin, in December 2009. Three years after that, the former couple welcomed a daughter named Vivian in December 2012. Alongside Moynahan, Brady and Bündchen raised the siblings as one seamless family.
During his many years on the football field, and in the time since he retired from the sport, Brady has frequently spoken about his life as a dad of three. From raising boys to being a girl dad, the seven-time Super Bowl winner has navigated fatherhood the same way he conducted himself in the NFL: with intention, integrity, and a whole lot of care.
Scroll on for some of our favorite parenting moments from Tom Brady, in honor of his birthday today.
Basking in the Joy of the Little Moments
Tom Brady appreciates life’s grand moments, but at the end of the day, it’s the little things that stick with him. During a June 2022 conversation with Us Weekly, the retired quarterback shared his thoughts on quality time with his kids. “That’s the thing, we don’t have to do much,” Brady said. “I think it’s not about where we’re going. It’s just us all.”
He explained, “My son had a school trip to Italy, and if someone says, ‘What was your favorite trip about Italy?’ I would say the time I was in the car with my two sons.” Brady heartwarmingly continued, “That’s what I remember more than anything, more than going to the Colosseum or some restaurant — the time in the car together. So as long as we’re all together, I’m pretty cool.”
On the Importance of Vivian’s Influence on Her Brothers
In December 2012, shortly after the arrival of his daughter Vivian, Brady spoke about the value the little girl brought to his family. The football player told ESPN, “I grew up in a house with three sisters. 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.”
Sharing the Values He Hopes to Instill in His Kids
During an April 2022 episode of his series Man in the Arena, Tom Brady emotionally recounted what he hopes for his children. “We want our kids to be happy. I want them to be respectful of people. I want them to be kind. I want to make the world a better place,” he said through tears.
Supporting His Son’s Love For Football Without Pressuring Him to Perform
Many parents fall into the trap of wanting their kids to succeed so much that they put a distressing amount of pressure on their children’s shoulders. That’s not the case for Brady, though. During an October 2022 episode of his Let’s Go! podcast, the NFL icon opened up about what a joy it’s been to watch his son Jack compete in high school football.
“I think one of the great highlights of my life is watching him play and him grow and develop, and my kids in general too,” Brady shared. He admitted, “I could never imagine he’d be in high school. I never imagined him playing football. So, getting out there and watching him play has been so much fun for me.”
Proving he’s a top-tier parent, Brady added, “I don’t give a sh*t how well he does. I just love watching him and seeing him enjoy it with his friends and the camaraderie at a young age.”
The Super Bowl winner reminisced about his own high school football days, recalling, “I loved being out there with my teammates, having pancake breakfasts on Saturdays. [Jack] has meals on Friday nights with his teammates, and it brings out the best parts of us. So, it’s really a treat, as all parents know, watching their kids play,” Brady said.
Being Transparent About the Difficulties of Work-Life Balance
Balancing his life as a dad with his career as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the NFL wasn’t easy for Brady. During a March 2018 appearance on Good Morning America, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer said, “[With] three kids … you’re just always trying to juggle and you want to be there for them and you want to be there for the hockey games and the soccer games, but you also realize the level of commitment it takes to give as much as you can to the team that needs you.”
Brady added, “I think most professionals probably feel the same way. Sometimes it gets out of balance and you’ve got to figure out how to bring it back to a point where it feels great for everybody involved.”
Learning to Embrace His Son’s Interests
Though Brady’s eldest son shares his love for sports, his youngest son has other interests — and that was a challenge the pro football player had to overcome as a dad.
“When Benny came along, I thought he would be just like Jack … [who] is just like me,” Brady confessed during his 2019 interview with Men’s Health. “So I was like, ‘C’mon, let’s do this.’ And he was like, ‘Nope.’ And I was like, ‘What? No, do this!'” he admitted of trying to force Benjamin to like sports.
Brady continued, “Gisele kept saying to me, ‘Would you effing understand that your son is different?’ It was hard for me. I was like, ‘What do you mean? He’s a boy; he should do all these things that I do.'”
The athlete eventually wrapped his head around the idea that Benjamin doesn’t share his interests just because of the expectations of his gender. Recognizing his acceptance of his son just the way he is, Brady said, “The reality is that Benny just likes different things. 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.”
Hoping His Kids Are More Well-Rounded Than He Is
Like most parents, Tom Brady’s biggest wish is for his children that they’re better than he is. “What I’d wish for my children is to find something that they really love to do like I have, but I think I have taken it to an extreme too,” he said during an episode of Man in the Arena.
“You know, I hope they don’t take things as far as I’ve taken them. I want them to experience great success in whatever they do, but there’s a torment about me that I don’t wish upon them,” Brady shared.
On Being Wrapped Around His Daughter’s Finger
During a September 2016 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Brady revealed his biggest weakness: his daughter Vivian. “That little girl owns my day — owns my life,” the former NFL player told the outlet. “[I] cannot say no to anything. Whatever she tells her dad to do, that’s what I do. That’s just the way it goes.”
Recognizing His Family’s Support & Sacrifice
After he and the New York Patriots won the 2019 Super Bowl, Tom Brady gave a shoutout to his family during a post-game interview. “I can’t wait to just spend some time with my family, my kids and my wife,” the quarterback said. He added, “I couldn’t do it without their support. It’s just been a great year.”
Owning His Shortcomings as a Parent
During an October 2021 episode of his Let’s Go! podcast, Brady shed light on his thoughts regarding retirement. In addition to Gisele Bündchen shouldering the load of raising their children, the former quarterback talked about the moments he was missing with his kids while away during the football season.
“I don’t want to miss any of the kids’ stuff,” he began. “It’s a little teeter-totter from time to time, and I’m trying, like all of us, to do the best we can do based on the circumstances.”
Brady continued, “Football players, we get a good, healthy off-season. I try to do my best with the kids.” While yearning for more family time, he also recognized that he isn’t well versed with his kids’ daily routine. “I wish I was there more, but I think if I was there too much, they might be sick and tired of me screwing everything up that’s been going on in the house for a long time,” Brady admitted.
Lessons Learned From the Baby of the Family
After Brady casually threw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2021 Super Bowl trophy from one boat to another while celebrating the team’s win, he revealed a certain little girl chastised him for the careless move.
During a conversation with James Corden, Brady said, “Who could imagine that an 8-year-old girl would have the most sense of anybody in that whole area at the time? She’s the voice of reason. I mean, go figure. It was really cute,” he admitted.
On His ‘Greatest Achievement’
When he announced his first retirement from the NFL in 2022, Brady released a statement thanking everyone in his life, from family to fans, for their decades-long support. He addressed his former partner and kids directly, writing, “To my wife, Gisele, and my children Jack, Benny and Vivi, you are my inspiration. Our family is my greatest achievement.”
On the Greatest Gift His Family Has Given Him
Hanging up his cleats for good in February 2023, Tom Brady thanked his family again for their role in his history-making success in the NFL. “I really thank you guys so much. To every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever, there’s too many,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you guys for allowing me to live out my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”
Leave a Comment