Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady issued an apology Thursday (October 20) regarding comments he made comparing football to military deployment during the latest episode of his Let's Go podcast.
“Earlier this week I made a statement about playing football and the military. It was a very poor choice of words,” Brady told reporters during a press conference via Greg Auman of the Athletic. “I just want to express that to any sentiments out there that people may have taken in a certain way, so I apologize.”
On Monday (October 17), Brady discussed his life balance with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant and how his attitude has changed in the latter part of this 23-year NFL career.
“I almost look at a football season like you’re going away on deployment in the military, and it’s like, ‘Man, here I go again.’ There’s only one way to do it. ... The reality is you can really only be authentic to yourself, right?” Brady said on the podcast.
“Whenever you may say, ‘Oh man, I want to, you know, make sure I spend a little more time doing this.’ When it comes down to it, your competitiveness takes over and as much as you want to have this playful balance with the work balance, you’re going to end up doing exactly what you’ve always done, which is why you are who you are,” Brady added. “You’re going to go, how do I get it done?”
Brady declined to further explain the point he initially attempted to make while addressing reporters on Thursday.
“To be honest, I really don’t want to expand on it too much. ... I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for everyone who served (in the military),” Brady said.
“In the end, we play a game and the military is defending our country,” Brady added. “It’s two very different things, and I shouldn’t have made the comparison.”
Brady, who turned 45 in August, announced his retirement, then un-retirement this offseason ahead of his 23rd NFL season.
Brady is the NFL's all-time passing leader for yards and touchdowns, as well as quarterback wins, among numerous other records.
The San Mateo native spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, leading the franchise to an NFL record six Super Bowl championships (tied with the Steelers), before joining the Buccaneers as a free agent in March 2020, which resulted in Tampa Bay winning its second Super Bowl in franchise history, becoming the first NFL team to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium, in February 2021.
The Buccaneers are coming off an upset loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 ahead of Sunday's (October 23) game agains the Carolina Panthers.