NFL legend Tom Brady enjoyed an illustrious career but following his second retirement the former quarterback revealed he does not want his son to follow in his footsteps.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner shares his eldest son Jonathan Edward, 15, – also known as Jack – with 52-year-old actress Bridget Moynahan as well as Benjamin and Vivian with ex-wife Gisele Bundchen.
After finally stepping away from the football field ‘for good’ the 45-year-old has been able to spend more quality time with his kids and he revealed he would support their dreams no matter what.
However, he admitted that it could be easier if their dreams didn’t included taking after him and pursuing a career in the NFL.
When asked by ESPN about his eldest son, who also plays quarterback for his high school team, and his hopes for him, Brady shared his concerns over the expectations Jack could face.
.@TomBrady does not want to choose a path of football for his kids.
“There’s too many crazy expectations people would put on [them] … Whatever they choose I’m there to support them.” pic.twitter.com/2D3Iq2AEwQ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 2, 2023
NFL legend Tom Brady revealed he does not want his son to follow in his footsteps
The former quarterback said he worries about the ‘crazy expectations’ placed on Jack, 15
Jack, Brady’s eldest son’ also plays quarterback like his seven-time Super Bowl winning dad
‘I hope [Jack] finds the things in his life that allows him to get up every day, to be internally motivated, to work hard at something he loves to do,’ Brady said.
‘I wouldn’t choose for him to do [football] because there’s too many crazy expectations that people would put on him — most of them probably very unfair, actually.’
‘We should support our children’s dreams, whatever they may be,’ Brady added. ‘It doesn’t need to be sports. It could be whatever. It could be performing arts. It could be music. It could be science. It could be law. It could be medicine.
‘I think that’s part of being a parent is supporting your kids’ dreams, and now that I’ve got more time on my hands, I’m very much looking forward to doing that as well.’
Brady also acknowledged the support, time and effort his own parents sacrificed to help him achieve his dreams.
He outlined the camps or spend late nights or early mornings throwing the ball at a field he went through growing up in the Bay Area.
Despite Brady’s wishes, it seems Jack has already caught the footballing bug as he’s been spotted tossing the pigskin with his dad in the past.
The legendary Patriots and Bucs star shared pictures in March of himself in a beach football game, still looking in game-shape as he assumed his usual role of quarterback.
Brady shares his eldest son Jack with Bridget Moynahan as well as Benjamin (bottom right) and Vivian (bottom left) with ex-wife Gisele Bundchen (top right)
Brady talks to his son Jack, 15, during a beach football game in March
Brady still had his throwing form as he tossed a ball on the beach with former teammates
In one picture, Brady can be seen talking to his son Jack, who also seemed to be getting in on the action with his dad’s former New England teammates Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker.
Jack also trained with Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training facilities during the 2022 regular season.
The former Bucs quarterback posted a photo to Instagram of Jack, 15, about to throw a football, with the caption: ‘My Inspiration.’
In the blurry background, the dad of three can be seen in his No. 12 training jersey watching on what appears to be Tampa Bay’s training field.
Brady also posted a series of photos of Jack at the training to his Instagram story. One featured the same photo posted to his account, writing, ‘Fire that pigskin!!!!’
He also shared a photo of Jack in a Buccaneers cap, looking like he is talking to someone, while Brady stands with his back to the camera.
While, Jack has already taken tot he field, Bundchen revealed that Brady’s other son Benjamin prefers ‘non-ball’ sports, like surfing, jujitsu and skiing as well as drawing on his iPad.
She told Vanity Fair how tough placing the ‘athletic pressure of being’ the offspring of one of the greatest NFL player of all-time on a child.
The Brazilian beauty then vaguely reference ‘one particular’ bullying incident that occurred after one of Benjamin’s baseball game.
Bundchen did not go into any further details, but her former spouse previously spoke about how his firstborn Jack ‘loves sports’ while Benny ‘likes different things.’
Earlier this week, DailyMail.Com exclusively reported that Brady would love to return to the NFL and unretire for the second time, but has too many commitments to make a return possible.
A source close to the 45-year-old said to Mail Sport: ‘Tom misses football, loves playing, and would love nothing more than to compete again on the grandest stage and win another Super Bowl.
Brady posted a series of photos of jack training to his Instagram story during the 2022 season
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback captioned the post, ‘My Inspiration’
Gisele Bundchen revealed her 13-year-old son Benjamin endured bullying in Boston for not wanting to follow his father Brady’s footsteps on the football field
Brady and Gisele Bundchen divorced in October following 13 years of marriage
‘But as amazing as those thoughts sound, he has made the decision to retire from the NFL once and for all.
‘He now has an ownership stake with the Raiders, and though he is very familiar with the coaching staff in Las Vegas, and the fact that the Super Bowl would be played in Vegas this upcoming season, at this time it is very unlikely and close to impossible that Tom would come back to play for the Raiders or any NFL team this upcoming year.
‘Currently in his mind, his other ventures in entertainment and entrepreneurial efforts and also the fact he will be a future play-by-play announcer for FOX are really taking up all his time.’
However, Brady insisted he was not set to perform yet another retirement U-turn later in the week.
‘I’m certain I’m not playing again, so I’ve tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that, ’cause I’ve already told people that lots of times,’ Brady told Sports Illustrated.
‘I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at my FOX next year. I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders — and we’re in the process of that, along with the other different things I’m involved with professionally.’
Brady chats with Jack during a New England Patriots training session in 2018
Brady shared a photo of jack with his ex-girlfriend actress Bridget Moynahan for Mother’s Day
Brady was reportedly given the ‘blessing’ of FOX to explore investing in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady is set to step into the broadcast booth with FOX – who he signed a $375million deal with – in the fall of 2024, while he also owns an eponymous apparel brand, Brady Brand.
Brady announced his retirement from the NFL in an emotional video on February 1 – insisting that this time he was stepping away for good.
During his final season, he announced his divorce from the Brazilian supermodel Bundchen after 13 years of marriage. Brady had two kids with Bundchen (Vivian and Benjamin), and also has a son with ex-wife Bridget Moynahan (Jack).
