This family moment is even sweeter than a touchdown.
Tom Brady returned to Gillette Stadium for a special reason on Sept. 10. The former New England Patriots quarterback, who spent 20 seasons with the team and earned six Super Bowl championships during his tenure—was honored in a special halftime ceremony during the team's home opener. And he had three extra special guests at his side—his three kids, 16-year-old Jack, who he shares with ex Bridget Moynahan, as well as his and ex-wife Gisele Bündchen's children, Ben, 13, and Vivian, 10.
And to make the special moment that much more meaningful, all three donned a number 12 jersey for the occasion—the number Tom wore throughout his NFL career—as they waited on stage for their father to run out onto the field. In a photo from the ceremony, the proud dad can be seen hugging Vivian while his two sons stand by his side.
After Patriots owner Robert Kraft said a few words, during which he dubbed Tom the greatest to have ever played the game, the 46-year-old had the opportunity to speak to the thousands of fans watching.
"This is an incredible celebration for me, for our family, for my teammates, for all of us to come back and thank you guys for what you've done for us," he said during the speech. "I was so fortunate to be drafted here two decades ago, 23 years to be exact, not even knowing where New England was on the map. And not that we put it on the map, but I think a lot more people in the U.S. know where the New England Patriots play."
And to loud cheering, he added, "All our lives take us on different journeys, they take us to different places, they bring different people into our lives, but one thing I am sure of—and that will never change—is that I am a Patriot for life."
And for the former football player, who officially retired from the sport earlier this year after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he's enjoying seeing others following in his footsteps—namely, his two sons.
"My son is gonna play football this year, Benny," Tom revealed during the Sept. 4 episode of his SiriusXM show Let's Go! With Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray. "So, I've been throwing the ball to him in the backyard. He's gonna be a little beast. He's an amazing kid and he's got a lot of talents. He's a really talented musician and artist. And then he told me this year, ‘Dad, I'm playing football.'"
Tom had previously shared that Jack was playing football on his high school's team. "I don't give a s--t how well he does," he said at the time. "I just love watching him and seeing him enjoy it with his friends and the camaraderie at a young age."
And of course, the boys aren't the only ones keeping their dad on his toes.
"My daughter's got me kicking the soccer ball," he added. "[I'm] really enjoying this new experience. There's so much to life that is here to live."
To see more of how Tom's keeping busy in retirement, keep reading.
Sept. 10, 2023
The athlete appears with his kids Jack, Ben and Vivian as he is honored by the New England Patriots at halftime during their home opener at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The five-time Super Bowl MVP takes a walk on the wild side, posting pics from his safari adventure.
Following Brady's divorce from Gisele Bündchen, the former quarterback was spotted with supermodel Irina Shayk.
The Super Bowl MVP joins a host of other A-listers at Michael Rubin's annual Hamptons white party.
Brady got VIP seating next to Novak Djokovic's wife as he watched the tennis champ compete at the French Open in Paris.
The former New England Patriots QB spent a day at Disneyland with his kids Benjamin and Vivian.
Perhaps missing the spotlight, Brady appeared on the "Hertz Let's Go Show", a fictional daytime talk show which was part of a series of digital ads.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion visits UCLA to cheer on his niece Maya during her softball game.
Brady speaks about his entrepreneurial experiences at the eMerge Americas conference in Miami.
The retired football star enjoyed a beach day with his kids and some of his former teammates.
Brady jumped back into the world of sports by acquiring an ownership interest in the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
While on a ski vacation with his kids, the athlete posted a photo of himself and his son Jack twinning in all-black.
Just a few days later, Brady kicked off his retirement with an underwear thirst trap.
Quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL by posting an emotional video on social media.