I like post-retirement Tom Brady. He’s a whole vibe, especially when it’s unscripted.
A colleague showed me recent Instagram Stories from Brady, posted on a rare Sunday, the one before the Super Bowl and, for him, a Sunday with no NFL game attached to it. The images were simple and almost disarming in a “Wow, he really does do normal stuff” type of way. A selfie of Brady lying on the couch. Another one of him moving from the couch back to bed. Joking about what one does on a Sunday.
What also stood out was how quickly people decided it had to mean something more. He must be bored. He must be missing his ex. He was “married to football” and didn’t know how to relax. And even, my favorite, suggesting he was posting to signal to a crush.
The reality is that a free Sunday is probably not normal for someone whose life has been governed by football schedules for decades, even in retirement due to his Fox NFL broadcasting deal. Of course it feels unusual! It also feels worth noticing because, in all honesty, I think we’re all a bit more invested in Retirement Brady then we would ever publicly admit, even the guys.
And if there was playfulness in his Instagram stories, or flirtation, even better! At what point did post-divorce and post-retirement become a condition that disqualifies someone from lightheartedness? If he’s seen out and about, he’s “doing too much” and should be at home. If he’s chilling on the couch on a Sunday, he’s “lost.”
He is synonymous with football, and his name will always be tied to it, but, beneath that, he is still a human being. A single parent. A son. A brother. Visibility does not cancel humanity and it’s his humanity that’s often questioned, because it’s him representing something other than “The Goat.”
I appreciate the moments when he gives us a glimpse of his new normal. The moments that are inherently human, impromptu, and relatable. More importantly, I love it when the moments catch us off guard. I’m sure we can all relate to a relaxing Sunday on our couches that turns into stretching out in bed for a change of scenery and another nap, so let the man have his moment. He’s a man enjoying reclaimed time.
Do your thing, Tom Brady. We like it.
Kendra Trammel is a writer and brand steward documenting moments of recognition, pattern, and grounding clarity as they emerge.