On Father’s day, Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of football’s most iconic figures, shared a deeply personal tribute to his father on Instagram.
In a message that has resonated with fans worldwide, the former quarterback reflected on the lessons his dad taught him and how those life principles continue to guide him not just in public life, but in his role as a dad.
Brady‘s post opened with a direct, moving salute:
“Happy Father’s Day to my dad who taught me everything about what it means to be a father. And to all the Dads out there that who are great role models to their kids.”
He accompanied the caption with three images: one of his parents together and two of himself with his children.
The series captures moments of familial unity, from his father and mother sitting side by side, to candid scenes of Brady embracing his three kids. With Bridget Moynahan he shares custody of John Edward Thomas “Jack” Moynahan, and with his ex-wife,Gisele Bündchen, he shares custody of Benjamin Rein Brady and Vivian Lake Brady.
In his heartfelt message, Brady acknowledged the profound impact of his father’s guidance:
“My dad has always been my biggest supporter, my best friend, and my number one teacher not just in sports but in life. The values he passed on to our family – hard work, integrity, compassion, and unconditional love, shaped me in every way.”
He closed the tribute with a declaration of commitment to living out those inherited values in his own parenting style:
“Each day I try to live up to the example he set: to be present and to make sure my kids know how much I love and care about them. I’m grateful for every moment and it’s a pleasure watching these three beautiful angels grow up!”
Tom Brady’s parenting path
Midway through the post, Brady‘s message reflected a common theme he’s shared publicly before: parenting is both deeply rewarding and uniquely challenging. At an April 2024 episode of DeepCut with VicBlends, he admitted:
“You get better as a parent, I think, because you know when you’re a young parent, you don’t really know what you’re doing. You’re winging it. You’re trying to wing it.”
That interview offered further insight into his evolving role as a dad. He described the balancing act of guiding his children, noting the importance of knowing when to mentor or discipline, and when to listen:
“Am I listening or am I talking? Am I mentoring, or am I disciplining? Am I holding them accountable or am I letting them get away with things?”
Again in November, during a speech at the Fortune Global Forum, Brady doubled down on a simple yet profound truth: “being a parent is probably the hardest job all of us have,” he said.
“And we screw up a lot and I’ve screwed up a lot as a parent.” He stressed that despite missteps, his commitment to being a reliable and supportive presence for his children remains unwavering.