Why Fans Think Tom Brady Skipped Practice To Be On The ‘Masked Singer’

Topline

Rumors that Tom Brady skipped 11 days of training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week to appear on the reality show The Masked Singer reignited Wednesday after a clip was shared from the upcoming season showing judge Ken Jeong guessing one of the contestants is the star quarterback.

Key Facts

Brady returned to training camp Monday after taking a break from the mandatory pre-season training camp, which coach Todd Bowles said was a planned absence so he could tend to “personal things.”

Rumors quickly spread online about why Brady was missing from camp, which included speculation that he and wife Gisele Bündchen went on a family vacation, or that the couple had split, or that Brady was competing on The Masked Singer, a thread that particularly picked up steam.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox, a network Brady agreed this spring to join as an analyst once he officially retires from the NFL.

Brady tweeted Monday that he “wasn’t on the masked singer last week.”

TMZ—which was acquired by Fox Entertainment last year— published an exclusive clip from the show’s upcoming season on Wednesday, in which Jeong guessed that the mystery singing celebrity was Brady, noting “he just got fined for not showing up to training camp because he is here on ‘The Masked Singer.’”

Key Background

This isn’t the first time a possible Masked Singer contestant has leaked before the show aired. In February, it was reported that Rudy Giuliani had been unmasked during a taping of the show. His episode aired in May, and Rob Wade, president of alternative entertainment and specials at Fox Entertainment, said that he was disappointed the “jaw-dropping reveal” was spoiled by the media ahead of time.

Tangent

News that Brady was retiring after 22 years in the NFL leaked this winter, before the former New England Patriot confirmed it. But weeks later he decided his time on the field wasn’t up yet, and re-joined the team. In addition to joining Fox Sports, Brady launched an apparel line BRADY this spring, and announced he would be playing himself in the movie 80 For Brady, a buddy comedy starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Fields.

Forbes Valuation

$83.9 million. That’s how much Brady earned last year, Forbes estimates, making him the ninth top-paid athlete of 2022.

Further Reading

Tom Brady Joining Fox Sports As Lead NFL Analyst After Retirement (Forbes)

Despite Controversy And Low Ratings, Fox Doesn’t Regret Casting Rudy Giuliani On ‘The Masked Singer’ (Forbes)

Tom Brady Has Retired. Here’s How Much He’s Earned In His 22-Year NFL Career. (Forbes)

Tom Brady Reportedly Hasn’t Made Up His Mind Up On Retirement (Forbes)

Tom Brady Not Retiring After All—Announces Return To Buccaneers (Forbes)

Tom Brady Appears In Movie About Tom Brady— Fonda, Tomlin, Fields And Moreno Will Star (Forbes)