Exclusive: Tom Brady on His New Gucci Campaign—and Becoming a Leather Pants Guy at 49

With seven Super Bowl rings, numerous all-time records, and a 17-foot-tall bronze statue outside Gillette Stadium, one might imagine Tom Brady doesn’t have much left to prove, but that doesn’t mean the 49-year-old NFL GOAT isn’t up for a new challenge. The latest of these? Sauntering down a runway in the middle of Times Square for Demna’s first cruise show at Gucci. Ahead of his return to the Gucci-verse this week—in a new ad campaign shot by Michal Chelbin for Demna’s fall-winter 2026 collection, which also stars the likes of Alex Consani, EsDeeKid, and Shawn Mendes—GQ caught up with Brady about his first modeling gig, his workout regimen, and his newfound appreciation for leather pants.

GQ: What was your relationship with Gucci prior to the campaign? Tom Brady: Not much, ironically, so it was a fun phone call. 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 realized how unique the experience would be for me to really get outside my comfort zone and try something I’ve never tried. You have these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and that’s how I saw it.

That Times Square show looked pretty spectacular. What was the experience like for you on the ground? I’ve had a lot of really surreal experiences in my life, and that was as unique as any of them. Just being in Times Square and seeing how they built out the set and stage, and then ultimately how they organized it all. It was amazing to see how it all came together, and I think it went off great.

When was the last time you’d been

When was the last time you’d been to Times Square? Oh my god, you know, I’ve had a place in New York for a long time, but I’m not really ever in Times Square, other than driving through it. So when they said we’re doing this in Times Square, I was like, “Wait, how are they doing that? How does that happen?” Somehow the people at Gucci figured it out. What was the experience like working with Demna?

He’s obviously a very talented guy, and I got a chance to see the professionalism at work, shooting the campaign, and doing the fittings prior to the event, and then even on the day of. I’m always intrigued by people who are really great at what they do, and I’m always trying to learn what they do that’s different than everybody else. Obviously, there’s a vision, but there’s also relentless attention to detail and a sense of perfectionism, and I saw that in everyone involved in the show.

I was like, “Hey, you know, I think I’ll pop this jacket open a little bit as I walk,” and [Demna] said, “No, no, no, we’re just going to do it like this. Just trust me. It looks great.” So I said, “Okay, I trust you.”
Was that your first time wearing leather on leather? Yeah, I’d never really done leather on leather before, but there are some leather pants in my closet now.

I thought, Damn, that’s actually really comfortable. I

I thought, “Damn, that’s actually really comfortable.” I could see why people wear this. It’s definitely a different look. It felt more like a uniform—there was a rigidity and a structure to it, like my football uniform. Demna has said that the collection is intended to provide a less fashion-forward option for Gucci customers. Do the pieces feel accessible to you? I think there’s always a range for everybody in their day-to-day lives.

Even for me, you know, I just want things that are really simple, really comfortable, but also very stylish. When I first came to the NFL, when we traveled, everyone wore suits. Then COVID happened, and then everyone wore sweats, and after that, it’s like, okay, everyone just look presentable. I think a lot of people dress down their office looks now, and some people like to dress up.

So I think having different options for people is really important. There’s a shot from the campaign where you’re wearing a suit without a shirt underneath. Is that something you’re tempted to try in the real world? For my broadcasting, I’m usually in a suit, but 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

I take my jacket off a lot during the game, so that wouldn’t turn out great. How does your wellness regimen translate to staying campaign-ready in this stage of your life? I was very blessed in that during my career I saw my body as an asset, and because I had to take care of it to perform my job, I learned a lot of discipline around what I had to do in order to have my body as physically fit and prepared as possible for playing football.

I’m never going to lose that discipline, because I see the benefits of the investment paying off. I still want my heart to be strong; I want my muscles to do whatever I ask them to do. I don’t want any pressure on my joints. Working out’s been a big part of my life since I was in sixth or seventh grade, so now it’s just basically a habit. After this experience, do you see more fashion campaigns in your future?

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, and I think this was one of those things: doing something that I had never really done on a big stage with some really great people. Not having a background in fashion, did you do any research on Demna or Gucci beforehand?

I’ve always paid attention to a degree—I’ve been to plenty of Met Galas in my life, and I’ve always enjoyed stylish men’s clothing and suits—but I played it by ear on this particular occasion. I don’t come in with any preconceived notions. I just kind of take the opportunity for what it is, and then go for it.

Source: www.gq.com