Tom Brady on Not Retiring, Building BRADY Line & More
Written by SOURCE on April 19, 2022
Whether they like him or not, most football fans would likely say that Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time. With a resume that spans over two decades and includes accolades like 7 Super Bowl rings and 3 MVP awards, it’s hard to argue.
At 44 years old, Brady remained in the MVP conversation as the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season, which made his announcement back in February even more shocking. On Feb. 1, Brady announced he would be retiring from the game of football citing a desire to spend time with his family as a big deciding factor. Just a month prior, he launched BRADY, a brand bearing his name that sells what he refers to as “life-letics” apparel with the help of Swedish entrepreneur and Skims CEO Jens Grede. Public School co-founder Dao-Yi Chow is the creative director. The launch seemed like a logical way for Brady to transition into his life after football and focus more on his business portfolio.
“I think the intention was to create a brand that’s gonna be around for a long, long time,” Brady tells Complex. “You’ve gotta solve the problems and you’ve gotta continue to build on your strengths and understand your weaknesses. I think that part of it is gonna really fuel me in the second part of my career after I’m done playing. That’s really gonna satisfy the competitive nature in me.”
Today, BRADY introduces a collection focused on golf, one of Brady’s favorite hobbies. The line of golf apparel aims to mesh durability, technology, and style. With prices ranging from $75 to $195, the release includes traditional items ranging from knit polos constructed of lightweight fabrics to water repellant zip-ups. Supporting the next generation of athletes is a brand pillar for BRADY, and they’ve enlisted NCAA golfers Cole Hammer and Michael Brennan to star alongside Brady in the latest campaign. Legendary music video director Hype Williams, who shot all of the visuals, is also a part of the star-studded ensemble.
Clearly, this isn’t just another side project Brady has stamped his name on. But as most sports fans already know, 40 days after his first retirement announcement, Brady took to Twitter to make it clear he wouldn’t be stepping away from the game yet after all. He’s coming back to play another season as the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the question is: Why?
“I decided to talk with my family and I said, ‘I think I wanna do this one more time if you guys will support that.’ And my wife was so supportive of it and she said, ‘Look, I want you to be happy. I want you to enjoy it and go out there and win.’ Ultimately, that’s why I came back, to win,” says Brady. “There’s only one reason to play for me at this point in my career. And that’s to win.”
We recently got a chance to speak with Brady for a rare interview to discuss why he decided to not retire, if he thinks he could play until age 50, working with Hype Williams on his new BRADY Golf campaign, and more.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
