Seven Super Bowl rings. A 17-foot bronze statue outside Gillette Stadium. And now, apparently, a pair of leather trousers. Tom Brady has spent the better part of three decades rewriting the record books, but at 49, the former NFL quarterback is busy rewriting his wardrobe — and loving every second of it.
Brady stepped into a very different kind of arena this spring, walking in Gucci's cruise show staged in the middle of Times Square — Demna's first show for the fashion house — before fronting the brand's fall-winter 2026 campaign, shot by photographer Michal Chelbin. He joins a star-studded line-up that includes model Alex Consani, content creator EsDeeKid, and pop star Shawn Mendes.
The Moment Brady Said Yes to Gucci
Speaking exclusively to GQ, Brady admitted his initial reaction to the Gucci call was one of genuine surprise — but curiosity quickly took over.
"At first, there was a bit of like, 'Wait, say that again?' But the more we got into it, I think the more excited I got, and I realised how unique the experience would be for me to really get outside my comfort zone and try something I've never tried."
Brady described the Times Square production as unlike anything he had encountered, even after a career filled with extraordinary moments.
"I've had a lot of really surreal experiences in my life, and that was as unique as any of them," he said, adding that watching the Gucci team build out the set from scratch in one of the world's most chaotic public spaces left him genuinely astonished.
Leather Trousers and a New Kind of Discipline
For a man who built his legend on relentless physical preparation, Brady found an unexpected parallel in the structured world of high fashion. The leather-on-leather look he wore for the show — black trousers and a matching jacket — turned out to be something of a revelation.
"I'd never really done leather on leather before, but there are some leather pants in my closet now," Brady told GQ. "I thought, 'Damn, that's actually really comfortable.' It felt more like a uniform — there was a rigidity and a structure to it, like my football uniform."
Not everyone has been quite so enthusiastic. Barstool Sports co-founder Dave Portnoy was quick to make his feelings known on social media, posting Brady's campaign images with the caption: "Look how they massacred my boy!" He followed that up on X with: "BLINK TWICE IF YOU NEED HELP TOMMY!" — his latest in a string of public criticisms aimed at Brady's post-retirement decisions, which Portnoy has previously described as "one of the great downfalls of an icon."
Portnoy's commentary drew a robust rebuttal from NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who made clear in characteristically direct fashion that he had little time for the criticism.
Don't Expect Him Shirtless on Fox Any Time Soon
Brady's increasingly high-profile fashion presence has prompted some to wonder just how far he might push boundaries — including, apparently, whether a shirtless appearance in the Fox Sports broadcast booth might be on the cards.
Brady swiftly dismissed the idea, though with characteristic good humour.
"I don't know how my producer and director at Fox would handle it if I came in without a shirt on. I'm not sure how the football audience would love that. I take my jacket off a lot during the game, so that wouldn't turn out great."
Brady has been working hard to establish himself as a credible broadcasting voice since joining Fox Sports, having faced a rocky debut in 2024 before finding his footing. A shirtless turn at the commentary desk, it is safe to say, remains firmly off the table.
A New Chapter — and He's Open to More
Despite the online noise, Brady appears entirely unbothered. When GQ asked whether he would consider more high-fashion work in future, his answer was typically measured and quietly confident: "I would never say never to doing anything, so if there was an opportunity that presented itself that I thought was really fun and new, I would definitely be open to it. I always say the only place for growth is outside your comfort zone."
It is a philosophy that served him well across two decades of NFL dominance with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If his Gucci moment is anything to go by, it is serving him equally well in whatever this new chapter turns out to be.
