“It was really hard”: Tom Brady opens up about Gisele Bündchen split after mocking her on TV, blames himself for their divorce

Tom Brady may have stepped off the NFL field, but his personal life continues to make headlines. In a recent candid conversation, the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback opened up about the emotional toll of his divorce from Gisele Bündchen and the unintended consequences of a joke made at her expense.

Tom Brady reflects on life lessons from divorce and family

Tom Brady, who now serves as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, has gradually embraced a more reflective tone when discussing his split with Gisele Bündchen. “Not everyone is perfect,” he said during a recent interview, emphasizing that many people aren’t equipped early in life to manage the complexities of family. “It's all about having a clear purpose in life and improving little by little,” he added.

That introspective approach comes in the wake of years of scrutiny over his marriage and career choices—especially his decision to return to football in 2020 after briefly retiring.

That move, which saw him join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reignited questions about his priorities. “She didn't feel like I was doing my part for the family. She thought I'd play the whole season, and she'd take care of the house,” Brady admitted, acknowledging the imbalance that may have led to growing tension at home.

Regret over Gisele Bündchen joke during Netflix roast

One moment that clearly still weighs on Brady is his participation in The Roast of Tom Brady on Netflix.

While the quarterback appeared to take the jokes in stride during the show, including a jab from comedian Nikki Glaser—“You have seven rings... well, eight now that Gisele gave hers back”—Brady has since revealed the aftermath wasn’t so humorous for his family.

“It was hard for my kids, for sure... You don't know what to expect, and I love to laugh at myself... but for my kids, it was really hard,” Brady said in a May appearance on the Impaulsive podcast.Brady has long admitted that his devotion to football shaped every decision in his adult life. “I always felt that way when I stepped onto the field. So many people dedicated their time and energy to me and our team, and I never wanted to let them down,” he said. That mindset, however, may have come at a personal cost—a truth Brady now seems ready to accept as he enters a new chapter post-retirement.Also Read: Tom Brady's ex-wife Gisele Bündchen’s secret plastic surgery strategy in Paris sparked cultural backlash and personal regret