The Truth About Tom Brady And Bridget Moynahan's Relationship
Tom Brady's done it again! In January of 2019, he once again led the New England Patriots to another Super Bowl win, earning himself his sixth ring — quite an impressive feat. And as the confetti rained down and the crowd cheered (and jeered), Brady's wife Gisele Bündchen embraced him, with kids in tow, ever the doting and supportive partner. Congratulations, you two!
But before there was Bündchen, and before Brady had enough rings to start accessorizing his second hand, he had a long-term romance with another beautiful and talented woman: actress Bridget Moynahan. The pair were definitely the talk of the town when they got together back in 2004. They were also talk of the town when they split in 2006 — but nothing could quite prepare them for what was yet to come.
Read on to find out the truth about the relationship between Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan, who are still in each other's lives today, even though the romance is long behind them.
They dated for three years
It seemed so natural when Brady and Moynahan got together back in 2004. At the time, Moynahan was enjoying a successful film and television career. She appeared as Rachel in the beloved girls' crew film Coyote Ugly, slayed as Natasha in Sex and the City, and snagged the starring role of Susan Calvin in I, Robot alongside Hollywood it-man Will Smith. She was obviously basking in the glow of her own stardom!
Brady was also enjoying an incredibly successful career, already bringing home Super Bowl wins for the New England Patriots as their starting quarterback. Love him or hate him, he definitely has one of the most successful records ever in the NFL, garnering the G.O.A.T. title from the league multiple times. According to The Boston Globe, Moynahan said at the time that she saw herself married with children within the next five years. But things took a serious turn in an unexpected twist.
Is this why Brady dumped her?
Seemingly out of nowhere, Moynahan and Brady split up in December of 2006, according to an article in People. A representative for Moynahan told the magazine that they "amicably ended their three-year relationship several weeks ago. ...No further comments will be made." So no reasons were given, nor explanations offered — how had such a seemingly happy relationship suddenly dissolved?
The mystery didn't last long, however, as before the year was even out, Brady was dating Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, according to The Boston Globe. The pair, who met through a mutual friend, appeared destined to be together from the start. "I knew right way — the first time I saw him," Bündchen gushed in an interview with Vanity Fair. The couple are still together, married with children — guess it truly was meant to be for them.
So was Bündchen the reason that Brady and Moynahan called it quits? Chances are Moynahan didn't end it, as she told Harper's Bazaar that she was "heartbroken" at the time. We can only speculate as the couple remain tight-lipped to this day, but it seems likely that Brady fell for Bündchen, leaving Moynahan behind. Ouch.
Moynahan's surprise pregnancy
As if things weren't dramatic enough, with love at first sight for two leaving a third jilted, the biggest curve ball was yet to fly. That's because just two and a half months after Brady and Bündchen started dating, some shocking (and we mean shocking) news dropped: Moynahan announced that not only was she pregnant, but that the father of the child was Brady. Cue the record scratch!
Those days were difficult for Moynahan, who never envisioned herself becoming a single mother. "Going through that traumatic time of being heartbroken and then being pregnant turned my whole life upside down and inside out and just knocked the wind out of me," she confessed in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. "But now I have a child, and it's the best thing in the world." Even though Brady wasn't in her life at the time, Moynahan enjoyed her pregnancy. "Being pregnant just felt so good. I was creating life on a daily basis, I felt beautiful, I felt sexy," she continued. What an amazing perspective.
Bündchen considered leaving Brady because of the pregnancy
News of the pregnancy also had a huge impact on Brady and his new lady, who had just started their romantic journey together. "It was definitely a surprise for both of us," Bündchen admitted in Vanity Fair. "In the beginning you're living this romantic fantasy; you're thinking, This can't be true, it's so good! And then, Whoops — wake-up call!" Can you imagine falling head-over-heels in love, then having a bomb like that drop in your lap? Crazy.
Bündchen briefly wondered if she should end their burgeoning romance, and encourage Brady to reunite with his ex. "You question at times — 'Should I stay here? Maybe you should work this out,'" she continued. "But when people break up, it's for a reason." Looking back, Bündchen views the whole experience with renewed perspective. "I think it was a blessing, because otherwise I don't think I would have known what he was made of, and he wouldn't have known what I was made of," she said of Brady. So all's well that ends well.
Brady wasn't in the delivery room
It's evident that Brady wanted to be present in his first son's life. But to do so, that meant that he and Moynahan had to maintain a solid relationship in order to give their child stability. Clearly it all worked out, as Brady and his eldest look pretty darn happy on Instagram on the reg.
But Brady wasn't actually there for the birth of his son, which might have been a little awkward for Moynahan. "[Tom] was not in the [delivery] room," she revealed in an interview with More magazine (via People). Perhaps they just weren't close enough to share that level of intimacy anymore? That's not to say Brady was absent altogether, though. "He was there on that day and came in afterwards. He certainly wasn't holding my hand while I pushed," Moynahan continued. So he was there in the capacity that he needed to be, in spite of any lingering distance.
Moynahan had to accept being Jack's single parent
Things were tough for Moynahan after she had the baby as she was doing it for the first time, and all on her own. "Everyone says, 'You give birth, you go home, and you have this amazing baby and it's just beautiful. And I walked in and I just started sobbing," she shared in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. "All of a sudden, you have this newborn you have no training for. It's frightening." Girl, you're so not alone in that fight!
Part of the difficulty was also accepting she'd be raising her child with no husband. "I'm a traditional girl, and I believe in marriage, and I just always thought that's the way I'd be doing this," she continued. "For a moment, it was hard for me to accept that this was the way I was going to have a family." But she stayed the course, and accepted the situation in its totality.
Bündchen is grateful for Moynahan
For many years, rumors circulated in the tabloids that Moynahan and Bündchen didn't like each other. And Bündchen seemed to confirm those reports when she revealed that they hadn't even met (seriously?) in a 2009 profile in Vanity Fair. Additionally, in the same interview, Bündchen also said that Jack is "100 percent" her son. Everything about that screams awkward!
But whatever acrimony and drama may have plagued the relationship between Brady's former and forever love appears to be water under the bridge. These days, the ladies seem to be on the same team. "I'm so grateful for [Bridget]," Bündchen gushed in an interview with People magazine. "I know this was hard, but I couldn't imagine my life without [Jack]. I call him my bonus child." Sounds like what started as a super difficult situation for everyone involved matured into an enduring and nurturing friendship.
Learning how to parent as a trio
After Moynahan gave birth to little Jack, and Bündchen and Brady got to spend time with him, the couple realized that they wanted to make some big changes, according to an article in People. That's because of the overwhelming love Bündchen says she felt for Jack, which made her want to have her own children with Brady sooner than they had originally planned, which was ten years down the road. Doing so would also give little Jack siblings that were closer to him in age, something they agreed would be a good idea. Never underestimate the power of love, right?
Soon after, Bündchen gave birth to two children: a son in 2009, Benjamin, and a daughter in 2012, Vivian. And by the looks of it, Moynahan, Brady, and Bündchen have found a way to make their unconventional, blended family work out just fine.
Moynahan doesn't speak ill of Brady and Bündchen
Just as Bündchen doesn't speak ill of Moynahan, so too does Moynahan refuse to gossip about her ex and his wife. "I never made a comment about Gisele or Tom publicly," she noted in an interview with More magazine (via Us Weekly). "I have a relationship with these people on a daily basis. I'm raising a child, and it's public." So obviously Moynahan has her little one's best interest in mind, and slandering her ex and his wife isn't going to help her — or her wee one.
Moynahan is also conscious that her son has an incredible support network, which includes her ex. "My son has two loving parents and an extended family, whether it's cousins or stepmothers or boyfriends," she continued. "My son is surrounded by love." It's incredible to see a whole village come together to ensure that little Jack has the best upbringing possible, and we are 100 percent here for that.
Moynahan finally found love
Team Moynahan, prepare to rejoice! After everything that transpired, our girl finally got her happily ever after. On October 17, 2015, she married businessman Andrew Frankel in a secret, surprise ceremony, according to People magazine. The couple invited guests to Wölffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack, New York, telling them it was for a harvest moon celebration. Imagine their surprise when they arrived, and found out it was actually a wedding celebration. How romantic!
Moynahan also posted a wedding picture on her Instagram page, thanking the people "for making it all beautiful." And judging by the pictures, you know it was! In an interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Moynahan affirmed how happy she is. "Married life is good! You know, I finally figured it out in my forties that when it works, it works," she mused. "There doesn't have to be drama!" That's right! It's so nice to see her living her best life.
Of course Jack likes sports
Little Jack is growing up quickly, having celebrated his eleventh birthday in 2018. His father commemorated it on Instagram, with the caption, "Happy Birthday sweet Jack! I am so proud of you! You are growing up waaaayyyyyy too fast!!! I love you!!!" It's wonderful seeing such a public display of love from father to son.
As for what Jack wants to be when he grows up? Turns out he likely won't follow in either of his parents' footsteps, as Moynahan noted on Live with Kelly and Ryan that he doesn't want to be either a professional football player or an actor. "I think right now he wants to be a professional soccer player," she shared. "Though after the Olympics, he's like, 'I think I'm going to win a gold in swimming!" Sounds like our little man definitely likes sports like his father!