(CNN) — Just before the start of his 23rd NFL season, Tom Brady He reflected on how his life has changed as he has grown older.
Brady, now 45, has had a tumultuous offseason, retiring in February only to later reverse that decision. In the middle of training camp in August, Brady took an 11-day leave of absence to “tend to personal matters,” according to Brady’s head coach Todd Bowles.
And as he begins to prepare to tackle the grind of another grueling NFL season, Brady explained how his life is evolving as the years go by.
Tom Brady stands on the sideline during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on August 27.
“As you get older, life changes quite a bit,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback said on his “Let’s Go” podcast Monday. “There are different responsibilities that take shape in your life. There are different perspectives that you take on.”
“When I was 25 years old, all I did was think about football. That was my life. It was eating, sleeping and drinking football. It was my profession. It was my career. Over time, other priorities arise because you change and evolve in life and grows in different ways. You take on these different family responsibilities and commitments, and you put time and energy into those things.”
Brady is all smiles during a Bucs practice session.
Brady described the “big camera” that he felt was on him at all times, surveying his football life as well as his personal life and the scrutiny that came with it.
“You can’t stop your life even though the sport is happening. Even though I’m playing in my 23rd year, I have a freshman in high school who also plays football,” he said. “I have a 12-year-old boy who is making his life.”
“I have a 9-year-old girl who is going through her life. And I have parents, and I have a lot of things that are really important, pursuits off the field and goals that I try to maximize as well. Once football season comes, I focus on what I have to do and how I have to focus and what kind of commitment I have to make for the organization, so that we can maximize our potential as a team.”
The seven-time Super Bowl winner showed his philosophical side on how he handles the pressure of being the NFL’s biggest star and his changing life.
“I don’t think life is the ultimate joy. I don’t think life is always the ultimate pain. I don’t think life is the ultimate struggle,” he said.
“Life has ups and downs; through the clouds and the sun and the rain and the beautiful days. And you cherish the moments and find joy in the little things.”
After his only preseason game on Aug. 27, Brady told reporters “a lot is going on” when asked about his 11-day absence from training camp.
And though others suggested Brady had lost his passion for playing, he was unequivocal in his dedication to giving his best on the field.
Brady before the Bucs’ preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.
“I just felt like I had a little bit left and I wanted to take a chance and I owed it to my teammates and our great coaches and our entire organization,” he said. “We’ve built something pretty special here in Tampa over the last couple of years.”
“And we were very close last year, at the end of last year, we lost to the Super Bowl champions, they made a few more plays than us in that game. The competitive fire is still burning and I want to go out there and have a great season for everyone because There are a lot of people who have supported me along the way and I’ve always felt like I’ve played by the name on the back of my jersey and I’ve played by the name on the front of my jersey which is the Bucs and my family.” .
“I think football has taught me a lot of amazing lessons over the years, it’s brought me amazing relationships, I’ve had some of the best memories of my life on the pitch and I have a feeling this year will be the same.”
