Tom Brady's divorce was factor in Buccaneers' struggles, team exec Bruce Arians says

For nan first and only clip successful his illustrious career, Tom Brady vanished nether .500 past season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers still made nan playoffs successful a bad section pinch an 8-9 record, but it was clear they did not lucifer up to nan remainder of nan playoff teams. 

They mislaid successful nan first information of nan playoffs to nan Dallas Cowboys, 31-14.

Off nan field, it was a stressful twelvemonth for Brady arsenic he dealt pinch a divorcement from Gisele Bundchen. And Bruce Arians, Brady's caput coach erstwhile they won nan 2021 Super Bowl, said nan early Hall of Famer "wasn't himself" passim nan season.

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Tom Brady of nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers aft a fumble against nan Dallas Cowboys during nan 3rd 4th successful an NFC wild-card playoff crippled astatine Raymond James Stadium Jan. 16, 2023, successful Tampa, Fla.  (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

"The injuries to our leaders was really, really hard," Arians said. "Tom wasn’t himself, you know, pinch each nan things that were going on. And I sewage to springiness him each nan in installments successful nan world for battling done what he went done past twelvemonth for his teammates. I deliberation nan world of him, but it wasn’t nan existent Tom Brady retired there."

It was reported that Brady mislaid 15 pounds during nan play amid nan accent of everything disconnected nan field. He besides dealt pinch plentifulness of questions astir his looming retirement. Brady temporarily hung up nan cleats pursuing nan 2021 play but announced a return conscionable 40 days later.

Tom Brady (12) of nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers and caput coach Bruce Arians talk during warmups anterior to a crippled against nan New York Jets astatine MetLife Stadium Jan. 2, 2022, successful East Rutherford, N.J.  (Elsa/Getty Images)

Brady besides sat retired of training campy for 11 days earlier nan 2022 play because of "a batch of s--- going on."

Brady announced his status "for good" Feb. 1, and Arians thinks he meant it.

"I decidedly deliberation so," Arians said. "He’s spent a batch of clip pinch his kids and conscionable heading to nan adjacent chapter. He’s sewage truthful galore things going on, you know. He’s 1 engaged dude."

Tom Brady of nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers during pregame warmups anterior to a crippled against nan Baltimore Ravens astatine Raymond James Stadium Oct. 27, 2022, successful Tampa, Fla.  (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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The seven-time Super Bowl champion threw for 25 touchdowns connected nan play aft throwing an NFL-leading 43 nan erstwhile year.