In a heartfelt moment in his latest personal newsletter, NFL icon Tom Brady shifted the spotlight from his career to his fatherhood journey, and this time, the praise appeared to land positively on his ex, Bridget Moynahan.
The message comes just weeks after Brady used the same platform to subtly respond to criticisms from ex-wife Gisele Bündchen about his parenting during his playing years. But while that message hinted at tension, this latest note had a different approach, as their son Jack reached a milestone, his 18th birthday.
© Getty Images"Going to Jack’s 18th birthday party over the weekend, it was really heartening and rewarding as a parent to see a room full of fifteen great kids with strong bonds and the right values," Brady wrote. "Nobody is perfect... but seeing Jack with his friends felt like, hey, we got this one right!"
The former Patriots quarterback, now 48, emphasized the critical role parents play during the formative years, especially leading up to adolescence.
© Getty"As a parent, the home is the classroom... a parent is perhaps the most formative person in the life of a child," he shared. "Who a child chooses as their friends... is a reliable indicator of what they took from all those little learning moments — for better and for worse."
Brady’s reflections not only mention his own growth as a father, but also spotlight Moynahan, 54, and the successful co-parenting journey the two started almost two decades ago.
© Getty ImagesTom Brady and Bridget Moynahan's journey:
Brady and Moynahan began dating in early 2004, during a high point in both their careers. He had just won his second Super Bowl, and she was fresh off a star turn in 'Sex and the City' and films like 'Serendipity' and 'Coyote Ugly.'
Red carpet appearances followed, including the 2005 Vanity Fair Oscar Party and the Met Gala. But by December 2006, the couple quietly parted ways after three years together.
© Kevin WinterTwo months after the split, Moynahan’s rep confirmed she was pregnant with Brady’s child. Brady, who had just begun dating supermodel Gisele Bündchen, later called the moment a "very unique time" in a 2020 interview with Howard Stern.
“It challenged me in a lot of ways... and it was very challenging for my son’s mom, because she didn’t envision that either,” he said. Still, he added of Jack: “The greatest kid you could ever ask for.”
© Barry KingMoynahan, too, has spoken candidly over the years about those early struggles. “Going through that traumatic time of being heartbroken and then being pregnant turned my whole life upside down,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2008. But she also called becoming a mother “the best thing in the world.”
Despite the rocky start, Brady and Moynahan eventually became poster parents for positive co-parenting. "From the very beginning, the whole goal... was to always keep it positive," Moynahan told People in 2019. “To raise a son in the healthiest environment, and I know we've all done that — and it shows.”
© WWDBy 2023, Brady was publicly celebrating Moynahan in Mother’s Day tributes on Instagram, sharing photos of her alongside their son and Bündchen, writing, "Happy Mother's Day to all these amazing women who have given our family so much..."
Tom Brady and Gisele's parenting approach:
The uplifting tribute to Moynahan comes after Brady’s more pointed reflections from late July, in which he seemed to address past criticisms from Bündchen.
© Matt Winkelmeyer/MG18“I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family. I chose to do it by playing football,” Brady wrote, defending his work ethic during his NFL days.
“Reading bedtime stories and helping with homework are not the only ways to be a great parent... Being a great football player didn’t make me a great dad, but how I became a great player certainly had an impact.”
© Gisele BündchenThose remarks followed public comments from Bündchen in 2022, when she told Elle: “I have my concerns — this is a very violent sport... I would like him to be more present.” She added, “I’ve done my part... creating a cocoon and a loving environment... supporting him and his dreams.”
Their marriage ended in October 2022, after 13 years and two children, Benjamin and Vivian. Brady went on to play one final NFL season before retiring in 2023.
