“His spirit seemed more broken": Tom Brady’s final fight for his marriage to Gisele Bündchen ended in heartbreak

Tom Brady reportedly made one last effort to save his marriage to Gisele Bündchen before their relationship ended in divorce. According to sports journalist Lars Anderson’s new book, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback asked to step away from training camp for 11 days during the summer of 2022. The goal was deeply personal: to spend time with Bündchen and try to repair their marriage away from the spotlight. The account offers a new look at a difficult period in Brady’s life, just months before the couple publicly confirmed their split.Tom Brady’s final attempt to save his marriageBrady was preparing for his 23rd NFL season when he reportedly asked the Buccaneers for an extended break from camp. Anderson details the episode in Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness, which is scheduled for release on Sept. 29.According to an excerpt shared with PEOPLE, Brady told quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, “‘I’ve got to take care of some personal things,’ Brady told [quarterbacks coach Clyde] Christensen before leaving training camp. Upon seeing his quarterback’s lifeless stare — a numb, disengaged expression — Christensen speculated that Brady may have been experiencing a form of shock. Something had blindsided him — something very bad and something that had completely devitalized the forty-five-year-old man.”The book claims Brady spent the 11-day absence trying to keep his family together. His sudden departure also left members of the Buccaneers uncertain about whether he would return.“‘Tom didn’t know what the heck was going on,’ ” said a Bucs assistant coach to Anderson. “‘And we didn’t know if he was ever coming back or not.’ ”The account paints those days as an especially painful period for Brady. Anderson wrote that his return to Tampa did not bring the emotional relief he had hoped for.Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s marriage ended months laterWhen Brady returned to the Buccaneers, Christensen reportedly noticed a major change in the quarterback.Anderson alleged that when the seven-time Super Bowl champion returned to camp, “his spirit seemed more broken than before, as if the eleven days had not simply passed, but had instead carved deep canyons into his heart.”Christensen also described Brady as “an empty shell of who he was when he got back,” according to the book.“There was no joy. Everything was hard work, and that’s not like Tom, who had always loved the grind and preparation,” the book read.Brady and Bündchen ultimately confirmed their divorce in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage. In a statement at the time, Brady said they reached the decision “amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together.”The former couple continue to co-parent their children, Benjamin and Vivian. Brady also has a son, Jack, with Bridget Moynahan. He retired from the NFL for good in February 2023 and later moved into broadcasting, while Bündchen has since remarried and welcomed another child.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.