Tom Brady on Wife Gisele: 'In Her Mind, There Are No Boundaries'

From Men's Health

Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bündchen seem almost too perfect together. He's the QB that's won six championships, and she's the multitalented woman that was named the world's highest-paid supermodel for eight consecutive years. But behind all that glitz and glam is a couple that's deeply devoted to their marriage, to their children, and to supporting each other in all that they do.

In an exclusive interview for Men's Health's September cover story, Brady described why he and Bündchen work so well together: "We’re different in so many ways. She’s helped me grow in a lot of areas that I could never have grown without her. And I think vice versa. That’s why we found each other. That’s why we love each other and that’s why we work hard on our marriage."

Here's what you need to know about Brady and Bündchen's relationship.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen met in 2006.

Brady and Bündchen met in one of the most relatable ways ever—on a blind date. A friend set them up, and Bündchen told Vanity Fair that their connection was instantaneous.

"I knew right way—the first time I saw him. The moment I saw him, he smiled and I was like, 'That is the most beautiful, charismatic smile I’ve ever seen!' We sat and talked for three hours. I had to go home for Christmas, but I didn’t want to leave. You know that feeling of, like, you can’t get enough? From the first day we met, we’ve never spent one day without speaking to each other."

As Brady explained to Men's Health, the couple's different upbringings (hers in Brazil and his in California) have actually helped their relationship: "She left home at 14, she lived in Japan at 16 in era with no cellphones, she lived in NYC at 17 without speaking English. In her mind, there are no boundaries. Why can’t you do that? Why do you have to go to school? Why can’t you just leave and live in a different country?' In her reality, you can. Coming from mine, it was very different. This is what you do: you go to elementary school, go high school, go to college. In her mind, why do you have to do any of those things? And you know what, she’s right. I’m the one that had to go, you’re right. And that’s helped me grow."

Brady and Bündchen get married in 2009.

Instead of having the big, extravagant wedding that was expected of them, Brady and Bündchen instead got married in a pair of small ceremonies. The first one was in February 2009 in Santa Monica, and the couple only invited their parents and Brady's then 18-month-old son John.

Brady later told GQ that the nuptials were very low-key: "We planned it in like ten days, and it was perfect. We went back to the house and I barbecued aged New York strips. We had champagne, a cake, some ice cream...I think you always have this idea that weddings need to be 200 people and you invite everybody, and I'm all for it if people want to do that, but I think there was really something special about just having our parents there."

In April 2009, Brady and Bündchen had another ceremony in Costa Rica, and it was limited to about 40 friends and family members.

The couple has continued their low-key streak, and in 2016 they stepped onto the red carpet together after a 2-year break from making appearances.

Brady and Bündchen have 3 kids.

Brady and Bündchen have two kids, 9-year old-Benjamin and 6-year old-Vivian, and Tom shares Jack, 11, with his ex Bridget Moynahan. The couple often shares photos of their adorable brood online, and it's clear that the three kids love supporting their dad on the field.

But when the Patriots lost the Super Bowl in 2018, Brady had to put his own feelings about losing the championship aside and comfort his disappointed children.

"There’s a lot of build up. It’s the SB. It’s this big moment and they caught up. Look, I’m their dad. The game ended and I walked to the locker room and there was Jack and Benny was crying and Vivi was crying and I looked at them—obviously you put your emotions aside and deal with their emotions. I said 'Guys, look, Daddy doesn’t always win. That isn’t the way life is. You try really hard, that’s the most important thing.' I tried really hard and we just lost, you know."

Brady also told Men's Health that he accepts that his kids have different personalities and interests, and they may not follow in his very athletic footsteps:

"I think they’re going to be what they’re going to be. As parents you realize that. They’re going to be their own selves, not what you want them to be. They make you adjust. Benny has helped me grow. My eldest son Jack is a lot like me, loves sports. But he’s a better student. He just wants to try hard, never wants to disappoint his dad."

"When Benny came along I thought he would be just like Jack. So I was like 'C’mon, let’s do this.' And he was like 'Nope,' and I was like 'What? No, do this.' And Gisele kept saying to me, 'Understand that your son is different.' It was hard for me because I’d never had to do that. The reality is that he just likes different things. And it’s actually great because now I just go do what he wants to do and when we do that we have the best time. He loves joking and I joke back in the same way. And that’s been ­­­­­­­­­really fun for me and we have a great connection. It just learning."

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