Tom Brady Appeared 'Like a Cancer Patient' Amidst Marriage Troubles, Book Claims

Tom Brady's physical appearance deteriorated significantly during his final NFL season in 2022 due to the stress of his separation from Gisele Bündchen, according to an upcoming book. A former coach described the quarterback as looking "like a cancer patient with really good hair," noting that his "cheekbones had freaking cheekbones."

Lars Anderson's book, "Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness," details how Brady, then 49, seemed "miserable" and "not even close to the Tom we all loved," appearing visibly stressed. Teammates observed that he had lost an estimated 20 pounds and his "vibrancy" had waned. Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians commented that the significant weight loss on Brady's frame was "very clear that the reason for the weight loss was the stress from the personal issues he was dealing with."

The strain on Brady's marriage was evident throughout the 2022 season. According to the book, Bündchen was reportedly angered by Brady's decision to unretire, leading her to leave for Costa Rica while Brady took their children to their first day of school alone. In August, Brady sought a leave of absence from training camp to address marital issues in the Bahamas, telling then-quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen he needed to handle "personal things." An assistant coach noted that Brady seemed uncertain about his return, stating, "Tom didn't know what the heck was going on. And we didn't know if he was ever coming back."

Upon his return, the impending divorce cast a pall over his performance. Christensen observed that Brady was "an empty shell of who he was when he got back. There was no joy. Everything was hard work." The couple officially divorced in October 2022.

Despite the personal turmoil, the Buccaneers finished the season with an 8-9 record and won the AFC South. Brady's final game was a 31-14 playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The book suggests that Brady questioned his decision to return to the NFL, especially after teammate Ryan Jensen suffered a season-ending injury. One Buccaneers staffer is quoted as saying, "It was pretty clear he was asking himself, 'Why the f—k did I come back?' I think that’s when he realized he’d made a horrible decision. He didn’t come back and risk adding more troubles to his marriage to get the s—t kicked out of him!"

Brady and Bündchen began their relationship in 2006 and married three years later. The book also touches upon earlier marital strains, noting Bündchen's request in 2017 for Brady to retire, which he initially declined. A year later, she reportedly wrote him a letter expressing her feelings that their marriage was failing and that their children needed him more. They attended marriage counseling but remained together. Brady then moved from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2020 season, leading them to a Super Bowl victory that year.