Tom Brady may have seven Super Bowl rings, but when it came to his divorce from Gisele Bündchen, the legendary quarterback found himself nursing a wound that no amount of championship glory could heal. According to a bombshell new book, Brady was deeply insulted by how quickly his ex-wife moved on — and he made his feelings known in his own subtle way.
The book, Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness by Lars Anderson, claims that the NFL icon was unhappy when Bündchen started a new family with her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente. The couple reportedly welcomed a child together, a development that stung Brady more than he let on publicly.
A Cryptic Post That Spoke Volumes
Just over a month after the baby arrived, Brady took to Instagram — his preferred platform for sending messages that only those closest to him could fully decode. He posted a photo of himself throwing a football, arm extended, the ball spiraling away against a golden sunset. The caption? Two simple words: “True Love.”
To outsiders, it might have looked like a tribute to the game he dominated for two decades. But according to Anderson’s book, those in Brady’s inner circle saw it for what it was: a calculated jab at his ex-wife.
“To those who knew him well, there was no ambiguity,” the book states. One friend described the post as “the softest middle finger.”
It was a classic Brady move — never overtly confrontational, but always sending a message. The same competitive fire that made him the greatest quarterback of all time apparently carried over into his personal life, even as his marriage unraveled.
Gisele’s Astrological Exit
According to the book, it was Bündchen who initiated the split back in 2022. A source close to Brady told Anderson that the supermodel, who is deeply into astrology, essentially looked to the stars and delivered a blunt verdict: “We’re not compatible.” Just like that, the marriage was over.
The divorce capped years of tension reportedly fueled by Brady’s refusal to walk away from football. Bündchen had long wanted him to retire and focus on family, but Brady kept returning to the gridiron — a decision that ultimately cost him his marriage.
Since the split, Bündchen has built a new life with Valente, while Brady has remained single. He’s been linked to several high-profile models over the past four years, but nothing has stuck. Meanwhile, his post-playing career has had its own bumps, including fans begging him to loosen up in the booth during his first season as a Fox NFL analyst.
The Price of Greatness
Anderson’s book paints a picture of a man who sacrificed everything for football — and paid a steep personal price. The same relentless drive that made Brady a legend also made him difficult to live with, especially for a spouse who wanted him to choose family over the game.
For Brady, watching his ex-wife start a new family so quickly was apparently a bitter pill. The Instagram post may have been the only shot he could take without looking petty, but those close to him understood the message loud and clear.
It’s a reminder that even the greatest competitors don’t always win in the game of life. Brady’s legacy on the field is untouchable, but his personal story — as this new book makes clear — is far more complicated. And judging by that sunset photo, the wounds from his divorce are still fresh.
