Gisele Bündchen denies giving Tom Brady retirement ultimatum before divorce

Gisele Bündchen has denied that she ever gave Tom Brady an ultimatum regarding his playing career and their marriage. 

In an interview with Michelle Ruiz of Vanity Fair that was shared Wednesday, Bündchen called such accusations "very hurtful" and "the craziest thing I’ve ever heard." 

Brady originally retired on Feb. 1, 2022, but then announced roughly six weeks later he was returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for at least one more NFL season. 

"Listen, I have always cheered for him, and I would continue forever," Bündchen said about her ex-husband. "If there’s one person I want to be the happiest in the world, it’s him, believe me. I want him to achieve and to conquer. I want all his dreams to come true. That’s what I want, really, from the bottom of my heart." 

The personal lives of Brady and Bündchen generated sports headlines last August when the seven-time Super Bowl champion shockingly took an 11-day absence away from the Buccaneers in the heart of the preseason. It was subsequently reported the couple was experiencing marital issues directly related to Brady's desire to continue playing at the age of 45, and it was even said that Bündchen had told Brady "either he leaves football to spend time with the family or she is gone for good." 

The two confirmed their divorce after 13 years of marriage on Oct. 28.

Bündchen scoffed at any notion she is "somebody who is against football" even as it pertains to Brady's long-term health. 

"Sometimes you grow together; sometimes you grow apart," she added about the divorce. "When I was 26 years old and he was 29 years old, we met, we wanted a family, we wanted things together. As time goes by, we realize that we just wanted different things, and now we have a choice to make. That doesn’t mean you don’t love the person. It just means that in order for you to be authentic and truly live the life that you want to live, you have to have somebody who can meet you in the middle, right? It’s a dance. It’s a balance." 

Brady reportedly lost anywhere from 15 to 27 pounds last year while dealing with his off-the-field problems, and former Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen admitted in January he "worried" about the legendary signal-caller during this past season. Veteran defensive end William Gholston later suggested the Buccaneers didn't have the right "mindset and mentality" throughout the campaign. 

While Brady retired "for good" on Feb. 1 of this year, he is currently a free agent and can sign with any team. As recently as last week, TB12 declined to emphatically slam the door on another return.