Former NFL coach says divorce with Gisele Bündchen has turned Tom Brady into ‘shell of himself’

An NFL icon has said what everyone is thinking about Tom Brady and his recent on-field woes with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) leaves the field looking disappointed after the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on October 16, 2022. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Rex Ryan said the quiet part out loud.

After the Bucs lost 21-3 to the Panthers, their fourth loss in five games, the ESPN analyst spoke about Tom Brady’s performance amid rumours of a bitter divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen.

“This team is searching like crazy. At least they’re trying, they’re searching, but Tom Brady looks like a shell of himself,” Ryan said on ESPN’s “Get Up”, the NY Post reports.

“You look at him even physically. His personal life, obviously, is having an effect too. I get it. I don’t want to minimise this. It’s a factor. Obviously it’s something. This looks like there’s no answer because there’s no speed on the field.”

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The former Bills and Jets coach called the Buccaneers old, slow and unwatchable.

Citing a stat from show producer Paul “Hembo” Hembekides, Ryan said that Tampa is the second-slowest offence in the league; the only team behind them is the Indianapolis Colts.

Rex Ryan on Tom Brady and the Bucs:

"This team is old and slow. ... They are unwatchable on offense." pic.twitter.com/Qg7EubVCuz

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 24, 2022

Brady was 32-49 for 290 yards – fewer than six yards per attempt – on Sunday in Carolina.

This was a game in which the Bucs were double-digit favourites as the Panthers had traded their best offensive player, Christian McCaffrey, to the 49ers earlier in the week, and were starting pre-season third-stringer P.J. Walker at quarterback.

Pre Super Bowl Instagram post of superstar New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady and his Brazilian model wife Gisele Bündchen at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Pic: Instagram@gisele

Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Bucs have lost four of five.

The silver lining for Tampa is that at 3-4, they still lead the NFC South in a tie with the Falcons.

The betting market handily expects the Bucs to win the division, as they are listed as big favourites by bookmakers including FanDuel.

Brady-Bündchen divorce takes ‘nasty’ turn’

Meanwhile, Bündchen has hired the top divorce lawyer in Florida to take on Brady as the pair seem to be heading to the end zone.

Insiders say Bündchen hired Tom Sasser, the managing partner of the law firm of Sasser, Cestero & Roy.

The West Palm Beach divorce lawyer has handled a stable of high-profile clients including Tiger Woods in his divorce with Elin Nordegren.

Sasser also represented Jeff Gordon in his bitter 2003 divorce from wife Brooke which turned into a battle over the NASCAR driver’s net worth, but was ultimately settled.

A source said: “Things are very nasty between Tom and Gisele because of the lawyers. They are ready for a fight.”

Gisele Bundchen, wife of Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, celebrates with Benjamin Brady and John Moynahan after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

“Tom and Gisele are not battling over the kids, they both want joint custody. But it will take some time to divide their immense wealth and property all over the world,” the source added.

Bündchen, 42, and Brady, 45, share two children — son Benjamin, 12, and 9-year-old daughter Vivian, along with Brady’s son Jack, 15, with ex Bridget Moynahan.

Brady and Bündchen have been living separately for the past couple months following an epic fight and are now looking at dividing up their multimillion-dollar empire.

The 45-year-old is reported to have gone back on a promise to retire.

“I don’t think there will be any coming back now. They both have lawyers and are looking at what a split will entail, who gets what and what the finances will be,” said a source.

Brady was spotted without his wedding band this week.

His public sighting came just days after Bündchen was also seen out in public without her wedding ring.

Friends of the couple “are upset” at the Buccaneers quarterback “for going back on his word and coming out of retirement”, according to Us Weekly.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. Picture: gisele/Instagram Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jYMNTAlzP/

“They hate the way Tom is refusing to bend for Gisele,” an insider said, as reported by The New York Post.

“This was really the first big issue they’ve had in their marriage. Friends are hoping they aren’t past the point of no return,” the Us Weekly insider said.

“I never actually thought this argument would be the end of them, but it looks like it is,” a source previously told Page Six.

With his time struggling on and off the field, Brady has been mocked by fans in recent weeks over suggestions he gave up on his marriage in order to return to a footballing disaster.

However, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback told reporters on Friday (AEDT) there is “no retirement in my future”.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.