Tom Brady went through a public divorce with supermodel Gisele Bündchen at the start of the season. The trouble started brewing in August when media reports surfaced about Bündchen delivering an ultimatum to Brady: Retire after the season or else.
Though we don’t know for sure what went on behind closed doors for certain, we do know that Brady and Bündchen eventually divorced and Brady suffered his worst season as a starting quarterback in the NFL before announcing his retirement “for good” Wednesday.
According to one NFL insider, the effects of the divorce seem to have played a major role in the decision.
“Just talking to people this morning, many of which are very close to Tom, I would choose one word: Exhausted. He’s tired,” ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington said on First Take. “I think it’s not just about the 23-year career, which obviously deservedly so, he’s 45 years old. It’s time to rest up.”
Darlington revealed that the hyper-focused Brady struggled to deal with the divorce during the season.
“But we have to remember. Take the human element of this past year into consideration,” Darlington said. “During his most hyper-focused time of his life, which is in-season, he went through the stress of a divorce — a traumatizing divorce to him. So, now he stepped back. He decided, ‘You know what, I need to recharge. I need to rebuild my life and get myself reenergized,’ and not for the football field, but just in general.”
Only time will tell if Brady stays retired for good this time.
