>
NFL star Tom Brady’s desire to continue playing football seems to have cost him his marriage, but his playing days may soon be numbered after he recorded the worst start to a season of his career.
Brady and Gisele Bündchen on Friday confirmed their divorce after 13 years of marriage, after reports she had given him an ultimatum to stop playing football and spend more time with family.
It came just hours after Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a humiliating loss in Thursday night’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens, who came on late to win 27-22.
The loss marked the quarterback’s first three-game losing streak since 2002, his first year as a full-time starter for the New England Patriots.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has now recorded the worst start after eight games in his 23-year career, with a 3-5 loss taking him two games under .500 for the first time ever.
NFL star Tom Brady’s desire to keep playing football seems to have cost him his marriage, but his playing days may soon be numbered anyway
Brady and Gisele Bündchen on Friday confirmed their divorce after 13 years of marriage, after reports she gave him an ultimatum to quit football
After the Ravens fired Brady three times on Thursday night, he took the shameful accolade of becoming the most fired QB in league history with 555 sacks, surpassing previous record holder Ben Roethlisberger.
Right now, the Buccaneers have a good chance of making it to the playoffs, with the New York Times estimating a 55 percent chance of a post-season berth.
If Tampa Bay lost their November 6 game to the Los Angeles Rams — which would mark the first four-game losing streak in Brady’s career — the Buccaneers’ playoff chances would drop to just 38 percent.
Brady, 45, is also by far the oldest active player in the NFL, five years ahead of Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Jason Peters, who is the second oldest at 40.
Under his current deal with the Buccaneers, Brady will be given free agency at the end of the current season, meaning his future in the NFL is very much in the air.
But even if the Buccaneers have a losing season this year, it’s hard to imagine Brady not being able to find a home if he chooses to keep playing.
Brady holds nearly every league record for quarterbacks, including passing yards, completions, touchdown passes and games started.
He is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time, and many of his records are considered unbreakable.
Under his current deal with the Buccaneers, Brady will be given free agency at the end of the current season, meaning his future in the NFL is very much up in the air.
In February, Brady announced his retirement from the NFL, but then returned after just 40 days and announced his return to the game.
Bundchen, who largely put her modeling career on the back burner to travel with Brady and live with him and their children in Boston, was rumored to be disappointed with his decision to “retire.”
Brady has been cryptic about his plans for the future, sometimes hinting that the 2022 season could be his last, and sometimes suggesting he could play for up to five more years.
On Friday, Brady and Bundchen confirmed their separation by announcing on Instagram that they have decided to “amicably” break up after 13 years of marriage and weeks of speculation that their romance was over.
In his statement, Brady, 45, said: “As parents, we will continue to work together to ensure they always receive the love and attention they deserve. After much thought we have come to this decision to end our marriage. Doing this is of course painful and difficult, as it is for many people who experience the same thing every day around the world.
“We only wish each other the best as we pursue new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written.”
In a veiled jab to her husband, Gisele said, “My priority has always been and will be our children whom I love with all my heart.”
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen confirmed their separation in Instagram statements Friday. She said her priority had “always” been the kids, but said the couple had “grown apart.” In his statement, Brady said the decision was “painful and difficult.”
Tom Brady (right) and Gisele Bundchen (left) filed their divorce papers Friday, according to sources familiar with the case
She said she “wishes the best” for him, but confirmed the couple had “grown apart.”
For weeks, there has been speculation that the couple would get divorced as a result of Brady’s decision to return to work.
The couple, who share two children, have been separated since they reportedly had a huge fight over Brady’s announcement that he would not be retiring, and many speculate that this was the cause of their ongoing breakup.
Bündchen reportedly issued an ultimatum to Brady threatening to end their marriage.
“Gisele has told Tom he’s either leaving football to spend time with the family or she’s gone for good,” a source said. Us Weekly.
“She doesn’t want him to stay injured and not be able to enjoy life in the future. She does it for her family.’
The couple’s marriage seemingly began to unravel after they reportedly got into an argument over his decision to ‘cance’ his football career.
“Gisele has always been the one with the kids,” an insider explained at the time. “They had agreed that he would retire to focus on the family, but then he changed his mind.”
Brady shares children Benjamin, 14, and Vivian, 9, with Bündchen and also has an older son, Jack, 15, with ex Bridget Moynahan.