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In a recent discussion at the Fortune Global Forum in New York City on November 12, Tom Brady opened up about the challenges of parenthood, calling it "probably the hardest job all of us have." The retired NFL star admitted, "And we screwed up a lot and I've screwed up a lot as a parent." Brady, who shares son Jack, 17, with ex Bridget Moynahan, and son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian, 11, with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, emphasized that his journey in parenting has been far from perfect.
Brady, 47, acknowledged that he doesn't see himself as an "expert in parenting" but strives to "be dependable and consistent" for his children, supporting their choices in life. Reflecting on the guidance he received from his own parents, Galynn and Thomas Brady, he described it as a "blessing." Recalling his days as a backup quarterback on a freshman team, he shared how his parents never discouraged him from pursuing his dreams: "They never said, 'Man, don't do that. It's gonna be too hard. Let's think about another backup plan.' They kinda said, 'You know what? Go for it. Whatever you wanna be, go for it.'"
Brady applies the same supportive approach with his eldest son Jack, who has aspirations to become a basketball player. "Unfortunately he jumps as high as I do," Brady joked, adding, "But I tell him, 'Dude, you're gonna be a stud. Wait till you hit your growth spurt, you're gonna be jumping higher, you're gonna be dunkin'. And whether he does or not, who cares? But I want him to know that his dad's got his back."
Aware of the unique challenges his children face, Brady admitted, "To be a boy, it sucks to be Tom Brady's son, in so many ways." Despite this, he remains committed to guiding them through their struggles, just as his parents did for him. "My kids naturally are gonna be faced with their own challenges, and they gotta figure out how to overcome them, too," he said. "And I'll be there to support them a lot like my parents did. And I'll be learning along the way right there with them."
