‘She’s hard work’: Who was Tom Brady referring to in angry phone call on day of retirement?

Mystery remains over who Tom Brady was speaking to during a furious phone call in which he is thought to have yelled ‘stop calling me’ on Wednesday.

Just hours after announcing his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady was caught on camera lashing out at somebody over the phone appearing to say ‘she’s hard work,’ and also ‘this has gotta stop.’ 

Suspicions were raised he could have been speaking about ex-wife Gisele Bundchen, with whom he divorced in October after 13 years together.

And the timing of the furious phone call suggests it could have had something to do with Brady’s decision to retire, having done the same thing last year before sensationally ‘unretiring’ two months later. 

Lip-reading experts have transcribed Brady’s conversation for Dailymail.com.

Jeremy Freeman, who is certified by the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre at University College London , said Brady initially says ‘stop calling me.’ 

He is then seen angrily saying, ‘you say that today and that’s stupid’ as he tries to explain something pertaining to his retirement. 

He adds: ‘I’ve advised you to stay away from her, she’s hard work.’ 

‘What am I supposed to do,’ he then asks. 

According to Freeman, the seven-time Superbowl champion then says, ‘This has gotta stop.’ 

He then ends the call by saying, ‘Hey you gotta come through, oh man.’ 

Freeman noted it was difficult to tell exactly what Brady was saying given the angle of the video. 

It’s believed that Brady will now transition to the broadcast booth with FOX Sports, with a reported ten-year, $375million contract waiting for him

it is unclear what the phone call was about, but the Super Bowl winner looked grim-faced throughout

Brady spoke animatedly into his headphones during the call

it is unclear what the phone call was about, but the Super Bowl winner looked grim-faced throughout 

Brady returned to Instagram on Friday after the phone incident -  as he plugged new film, 80 For Brady

Brady returned to Instagram on Friday after the phone incident –  as he plugged new film, 80 For Brady

Brady announced his retirement in a seemingly serene video on Instagram on Wednesday.

But later that day he was photographed taking his daughter Vivian, 10, for a horseback lesson in Florida. 

He appeared irate and could be seen screaming into his headphones as he had an animated conversation with someone on his phone.

He seemed to be filming his daughters’ lessons for a period, but the superstar quickly started yelling and gesturing angrily – at one point spitting in rage.

Cutting a casual figure in a white t-shirt and neutral-colored tracksuit bottoms, Brady’s smiling demeanor quickly switched as he started pointing and raising his voice.

It is unclear exactly what made the Super Bowl winner so emotional, but he seemed to calm down by the time the lesson was over.  

Brady was also seen typing furiously as he ended the phone call

Brady was also seen typing furiously as he ended the phone call

Brady, 45, made his second retirement announcement from his 22-year NFL career early Wednesday morning before taking his daughter Vivian, 10, for a horseback lesson in Florida

Brady, 45, made his second retirement announcement from his 22-year NFL career early Wednesday morning before taking his daughter Vivian, 10, for a horseback lesson in Florida

Brady allegedly told the person to stop calling him, complained about 'sounding stupid' and said 'This has to stop.' The retired quarter pic appeared frustrated after the call

Brady allegedly told the person to stop calling him, complained about ‘sounding stupid’ and said ‘This has to stop.’ The retired quarter pic appeared frustrated after the call

Brady split with his supermodel ex-wife Gisele, 42, on October 28 last year – after he’d promised her that he would retire to allow her more time for her career.

However, the Super Bowl winner quickly changed his mind and returned to the sport just 40 days later, which seems to have sparked problems for the A-List couple, ending in their divorce. 

Reports at the time suggested Bundchen and Brady had had an ‘epic fight’ over his unretirement. 

Bundchen had expressed worry over Brady’s health, playing in the often violent workplace that is the NFL, telling Elle magazine she had discussed the issue with her then-husband. 

He started watching his daughter's lesson again soon after the agitated phone call

He started watching his daughter’s lesson again soon after the agitated phone call

The star was seen wearing sunglasses which hid his face during the call, but smiled and yelled encouragement to his daughter throughout the lesson

The star was seen wearing sunglasses which hid his face during the call, but smiled and yelled encouragement to his daughter throughout the lesson 

It is unclear exactly what made the Super Bowl winner so emotional, but he seemed to calm down by the time the lesson was over

It is unclear exactly what made the Super Bowl winner so emotional, but he seemed to calm down by the time the lesson was over

This week, following Brady’s second retirement announcement, Gisele broke her silence by posting a comment on his Instagram – which included pictures of the two of them together.

‘Wishing you only wonderful things in this new chapter of your life,’ Bundchen wrote, along with a prayer hands emoji.

Brady and Bundchen share two children together, son Benjamin, 13, and Vivian.

In his statement announcing the divorce, he said it had been a ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ decision that the pair reached after ‘much consideration’.

Gisele added: ‘To end a marriage is never easy… we have grown apart.’

She said she ‘wishes the best’ for Brady, adding: ‘I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always,’ she said.

Both said they would continue to co-parent their two children together.’

Over the winter holidays, Gisele was spotted in Costa Rica, warming up to her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente.

However, a source close to Gisele furiously denied that they’re in a relationship, insisting that the date was anything but romantic – and noting that Joaquim is nothing more than a close family friend.

Brady's last title came with longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski in Tampa with Super Bowl LV

Brady’s last title came with longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski in Tampa with Super Bowl LV

Gisele and Joaquim appear to go way back, and they even participated in a photoshoot for Dust Magazine together alongside Joaquim’s brothers, Pedro and Giu Valente, last year.

After losing his cool on the phone, global superstar was later seen smiling with his daughter as he bought them both iced drinks from a nearby shop on Wednesday.

Brady reportedly ‘informed the Bucs at 6:00am he’d be retiring,’ according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.

Brady and Bundchen shared two children together: daughter Vivian, 12, and son, Benjamin, 13

Tom Brady mentioned his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, in his retirement post on Instagram

The model was seen jogging with jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente in Costa Rica in January

The model was seen jogging with jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente in Costa Rica in January

Bündchen, 42, said they had 'amicably' finalized the divorce. 'My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart. We will continue co-parenting to give them the love, care and attention they greatly deserve,' she said on Instagram.

Bündchen, 42, said they had ‘amicably’ finalized the divorce. ‘My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart. We will continue co-parenting to give them the love, care and attention they greatly deserve,’ she said on Instagram.

It’s believed that Brady will now transition to the broadcast booth with FOX Sports, with a reported ten-year, $375million contract waiting for him.

His retirement announcement comes one year to the day that he first announced he was stepping back from the game. Brady first retired in January 2022 while he was with the New England Patriots, but stayed away for a mere 40 days before announcing he would return to the Buccaneers for the 2022 season. 

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk