Tom Brady Put In Tough Spot: Choice Between Family or Football?

Tom Brady's deep affection for football is allegedly responsible for the imbalance he is currently experiencing with his family and marital life. As you might know, Brady and his longtime wife, Gisele Bündchen, have made headlines in the past weeks, but not for the right reasons.

The couple is reportedly at loggerheads with each other over Brady's decision to come out of retirement and kickstart his 23rd season with the NFL. Now, a source is opening up about how the athlete has seemingly always put football over his family.

Per an anonymous source who spoke to People Magazine, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is torn between being a great dad to his kids and fulfilling his desire to be the greatest in his sport.

The insider noted that despite how it seems to the world that Brady is deeply focused on his football career, he also strongly desires to be a wonderful father to his three children — Jack, 15, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, 9.

"Tom is a great guy, everyone thinks so, including Gisele [Bündchen]. He doesn't mean to be so preoccupied," the insider says. "He wants to be a good husband and father; he still gets excited when talking about Gisele and the kids."

The source claimed that the 45-year-old just happens to have "such a big draw" to football, and as a result, "something's got to give, and it has always been his family." The insider notes that Brady's family has been "patient" with his career goals, but it seems that patience is running out.

The insider insists that Bündchen "feels like Tom needs to be home" as it is a critical stage for their kids who are growing older and becoming more aware.

Gisele Bündchen's recent interview with Elle Magazine corroborates the source's claim about her desire to have her husband at home some more. The Brazilian fashion model got honest with the publication, saying, "Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children, and I would like him to be more present. I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again."

Nevertheless, the "Devil Wears Prada" star maintained that she couldn't force Brady to do what he doesn't want to do. "But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too," she stated.

The model also subtly commented on the recent headlines that depicted her as desperate to have Brady retire from the sport. She slammed the media representation as "sexist" while admitting it is a consequence of the society we live in. She declared that she wants nothing more than for her husband to be happy.

Rumors of a rift between the lovebirds intensified last month when Brady missed 11 days of practice with the Buccaneers and cited "personal reasons."

The recent revelation from the anonymous source comes days after Brady played his first game of the season on Sunday and led the Buccaneers to victory against the Dallas Cowboys. In an episode of "Let’s Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, and Jim Gray" podcast on SiriusXM after the game, the athlete shed light on his family life and career.

After Gray joked that the only place Brady felt peaceful was on the field while being chased by "some 320-pound guys," Brady replied, "I hope that’s not the only place I find it because that’s a brutal way to go after a long period of time, to have that. But there is a simplicity to life when you’re in football season because there’s a rhythm to it."

He clarified that he found peace not just with the sport but with his family. "Football and family has always been the most important thing to me, so it’s a good time of year," Brady declared.