Tom Brady delivers ‘terrifying’ message to potential Gisele Bündchen replacement as NFL icon admits he has little free time

Tom Brady built his life around football for more than two decades. Retirement has changed his role, but it has not slowed his pace. The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback remains deeply involved in football, business and his work with the Las Vegas Raiders. At the same time, Brady says his children have become a bigger priority as he looks back on the final chapter of his playing career.Tom Brady opens up about family life after NFL retirementBrady's life away from the NFL still leaves little room for downtime. Speaking to PEOPLE, the seven-time Super Bowl champion admitted that his packed schedule has made personal time difficult, even as he continues to enjoy the work in front of him.“I don't have much time for a personal life or much time for myself, but I love working and I love my kids,” Brady told PEOPLE.His comments offer a glimpse into the balance he is trying to maintain years after his 2022 divorce from Gisele Bündchen. The end of their marriage led to intense public speculation about Brady's decision to continue playing, but both have indicated that the situation was more complicated than one explanation.Brady has also reflected on the point when he knew it was time to leave football behind. After 23 NFL seasons, he felt he had reached a stage where spending more time with his children mattered more than extending his playing career.“I had 23 years of [football] so I didn’t think I was missing anything, retiring,” Brady said. “I felt like I always had a goal... 45."I was 45 years old, I wanted to spend time with my kids, I felt like, okay, now it’s time for me to be at all my kids’ games. They’ve been to enough of their dad’s games.”The decision came after a difficult final season. Brady finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the circumstances surrounding that period made it a particularly challenging year.“I felt like I owed to my teammates and coaches to give them everything I had,” Brady said. “I wish it could have been a little bit better at the end. But it was just a unique situation and a unique year for me.”Tom Brady remains busy with Raiders and business venturesRetirement has not taken Brady far from football. His role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders keeps him connected to the league, while his media and business interests have created another demanding schedule.“I like to be busy and try to really stay fulfilled in the things I'm doing, so I'm working on some really cool projects and I'm involved with some great teams of people that are doing some really positive things,” Brady added.His interest in the Raiders also extends to young quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Brady recently purchased a one-of-one rookie card featuring Mendoza's first NFL autograph, describing the move as an investment in the quarterback's future.“I know how hard he works,” Brady said. “He's got a great family and he's coming to a great environment for success.”Brady's post-NFL chapter therefore looks less like a traditional retirement and more like a change in priorities. Football remains part of his world, but family, ownership and business now share the space once dominated by his playing career.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.