"If only Gisele had been equally supportive": Gisele Bündchen faces fresh scrutiny as NFL insider compares her support for Tom Brady with Aaron Donald’s wife

Aaron Donald’s return to the NFL has unexpectedly reopened an old chapter in Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s relationship. As Donald credited his wife, Erica, for helping him make the difficult decision to return, NFL insider Clarence Hill Jr. drew a pointed comparison to Brady’s own comeback and the concerns that surrounded his marriage to Bündchen.Gisele Bündchen’s support for Tom Brady became complicatedTom Brady and Gisele Bündchen were married in 2009 and built one of the NFL’s most closely watched power couples. So when Brady announced his retirement in 2022, his decision appeared to signal a new phase for their family.Brady said at the time that he wanted to devote more attention to his wife and children. But his retirement lasted only 40 days. He soon reversed course and confirmed that he would return for another season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Bündchen supported Brady publicly, but the situation was reportedly more complicated behind the scenes. As the season progressed, reports suggested that the quarterback’s return had created tension in their marriage. Bündchen also spoke about her concerns over Brady continuing to play, particularly as the demands of professional football remained a major part of his life.The couple ultimately announced their divorce in October 2022.That history resurfaced after Erica Donald joked about her husband’s own return to football. Her playful message suggested that she had given Aaron Donald the green light to leave home and resume his NFL career.Hill responded with a short but loaded comment:"If only had Gizelle had been equally supportive"The remark quickly shifted attention away from Donald and back toward Brady and Bündchen.Tom Brady's comeback contrasts with Aaron Donald's returnAaron Donald’s situation has one major difference. The Rams star has openly credited his wife with playing a major role in his decision to return.Speaking to reporters after agreeing to a one-year, $20 million contract with Los Angeles, Donald explained how much his family’s approval mattered."I think my wife played a huge part in this, me making this decision, period," Donald said. "Because, if the wife wasn't happy, it wasn't gonna get done. We gotta make sure that the household was good. The kid was okay with it all, having them hard conversations, figuring things out. What I wanted to do, if I was gonna do it, how would we do it."So, my wife was onboard. She said, 'If you wanna do this, just put your 100%.' ... She played a huge part in me figuring this out because it really wasn't an easy decision."Donald’s comments offer a striking contrast to the circumstances surrounding Brady’s comeback. Rather than simply celebrating a return to football, he stressed the conversations that took place at home before making his choice.That distinction is what gave Hill’s comment its edge. His comparison does not change the reality of Brady and Bündchen’s relationship, but it has revived public interest in one of the most talked-about moments of their marriage.For Brady, the decision to return ultimately marked the beginning of a difficult period in his personal life. For Donald, his comeback is arriving with his wife’s backing and a clear understanding of what the move means for his family.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.