Why Tom Brady Says His Last NFL Run Took Everything Out Of Him

Tom Brady is reflecting on the final stretch of his legendary NFL career and admitting it came at a steep personal cost. 

The seven-time Super Bowl champion has now opened up about how his last season unfolded amid major changes in his private life, including the end of his marriage. 

From difficult decisions on and off the field to lessons learned about commitment, Brady’s recent comments reveal why walking away from football ultimately felt inevitable.

Brady addressed the challenges of his final NFL season while speaking to MLFootball as a FOX Sports analyst. 

Asked about Aaron Rodgers potentially retiring, the 48-year-old used the moment to reflect on his own experience stepping away from the game. 

He explained that the 2022 season was uniquely difficult, as it coincided with serious personal struggles.

“My last season was tough. I was going through a lot of just a personal family issue, and it was a challenge, and it was a very… It just took a lot out of me in terms of my ability to continue to play,” Brady admitted. 

The season unfolded as his marriage to Gisele Bündchen was coming to an end, adding emotional strain during an already demanding campaign. 

For the football legend, balancing elite performance with personal issues proved exhausting, showing how much that final run demanded from him.

Despite the difficulty of stepping away from football, Tom Brady said he ultimately felt at peace with the decision. 

After 23 seasons in the NFL, he didn’t feel as though he was leaving anything unfinished. 

“And I had 23 years of it, so I didn’t feel like I was missing anything retiring. I felt like, okay, this is time,” the former quarterback explained.

Brady also revealed that he had long set personal benchmarks for when he might walk away. 

“I always had a goal, 45. I was 45 years old,” he said, noting that family priorities became impossible to ignore. 

He emphasized wanting to be present for his children, saying he felt it was time to attend “all my kids’ games” after they had spent years watching him play. 

The realization that football no longer fit with where his life was heading made retirement feel less like a loss and more like a natural transition.

When offering advice to Aaron Rodgers, Brady stressed just how all-consuming an NFL season can be. 

“It’s hard to give up football, too,” he admitted. “It’s something that we’re really good at. It’s something you love to do. You love being out there with your teammates.”

The former quarterback said he always felt a deep responsibility to those around him. 

“I felt like I owed it to my teammates and coaches to give them everything I had,” he explained, while also acknowledging that his final year didn’t unfold the way he hoped. 

Comparing a season to a marathon, Brady noted that the toughest stretch often comes in the middle.

“So to me, it’s, do you want to make the commitment year-round?” Brady said, adding that without full buy-in, success is unlikely. 

He emphasized that being “fully in” is the only way a team can truly compete, especially with a starting quarterback leading the way.

The end of Tom Brady’s marriage to Bündchen unfolded during the 2022 season, following tension over his decision to return to the NFL after initially retiring in 2021. 

The model filed for divorce mid-season, ending their 13-year marriage. 

Brady acknowledged that the timing made everything more complicated, both emotionally and professionally.

Three years after the split, Bündchen remarried fiancé Joaquim Valente on December 3, shortly after welcoming a baby boy together. 

Sources say Brady was aware of the wedding and has handled the news calmly. 

“It wasn’t a secret to him. They still have to talk because of the kids,” an insider told the Daily Mail, adding that Brady is “happy that she is happy.”

While the divorce marked a painful chapter, the sports analyst has remained focused on co-parenting and maintaining stability for his children, even as his former wife moves forward with a new life.

Since retiring, Brady has leaned heavily into work and fatherhood. 

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Fanatics Studios launch party in Los Angeles on Tuesday, he said, “You know what? I don’t have much time for a personal life or much time for myself, but I love working, and I love my kids.”

Brady shared updates on all three of his children, from his oldest son, Jack, to Benjamin and Vivian, calling his daughter “a little kick-ass volleyball player.” “I’m so blessed in so many parts of my life,” he added.

Though he admits personal time is limited, Brady appears fulfilled. Even as rumors swirl after he was spotted chatting closely with influencer Alix Earle on New Year’s Eve, Brady’s focus remains clear. 

His final NFL run may have taken everything out of him, but life beyond football is now centered on growth, gratitude, and moving forward.