You’ve seen the photos. A tall, lanky kid standing next to the greatest quarterback of all time, looking like a literal carbon copy of his old man. Naturally, everyone is asking the same thing: does jack brady play football, and is he going to be the next 199th-pick-turned-GOAT?
The short answer? Kinda. But it’s definitely not that simple.
Being the son of Tom Brady comes with a mountain of expectations that most of us couldn't even imagine. If you’re Jack—officially John "Jack" Edward Thomas Moynahan—the world basically expects you to wake up, throw a 50-yard post route, and eat avocado ice cream for breakfast. Honestly, though, his path is looking a lot more nuanced than just "Tom Brady 2.0."
The High School Quarterback Days
Let’s look at the facts. Jack did play football in high school. Specifically, he suited up as a quarterback for his school in New York City. Tom was even spotted multiple times on the sidelines, trying (and probably failing) to just be a "normal dad" while yelling out plays.
Tom has been pretty vocal about this on his Let’s Go! podcast. He mentioned how much he loved watching Jack play because, frankly, it’s the one thing he actually knows how to coach. "I don't have a lot of specialties in life other than probably throwing the football," Brady joked. He also pointed out that Jack actually has better hand-eye coordination and moves better than Tom did at 17.
But here is where the narrative shifts. Just because he can throw a spiral doesn't mean he's chasing a Super Bowl ring.
The Basketball Pivot (and the Growth Spurt)
By late 2025 and heading into 2026, the "football phenom" rumors started to cool off. Why? Because Jack is huge. Like, taller-than-his-dad huge.
While Tom stands at 6'4", recent photos show Jack has cleared that comfortably. And with that height has come a massive interest in basketball. Just recently, he was spotted shooting hoops with New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns. The kid isn't just standing there, either—he's dunking.
There's been a lot of talk about Jack "trading the gridiron for the hardwood." Even his mom, Bridget Moynahan, has said in interviews that he’s really a "normal kid" who loves basketball and lacrosse. She’s been very firm about not putting pressure on him to follow the NFL path.
Why people are confused
It doesn't help that there are other athletes named Jack Brady out there. If you go searching for stats, you might stumble across:
- A Jack Brady who played wide receiver for SUNY Cortland.
- Another Jack Brady who was a standout punter and kicker at Campbell University.
- An Irish soccer goalkeeper also named Jack Brady.
None of these are Tom's son. Tom's Jack is currently navigating his late teens, and while he’s clearly a gifted athlete, he hasn't committed to a major D1 football program like people expected.
Does Jack Brady play football right now?
If you're looking for him on a college roster in 2026, you're going to be disappointed. He hasn't followed the typical "recruit" path. Unlike Arch Manning or other legacy kids who are groomed for the league from age five, Jack seems to be doing his own thing.
Tom has gone on record saying, "I don't even know if he's going to play next year," referring to Jack's senior year of high school. The focus has clearly shifted toward him being a well-rounded kid who enjoys sports for the fun of it, rather than a professional prospect.
What the Future Holds
Honestly, the kid is 18. He’s got options. Whether he decides to walk on at a school like Michigan (his dad’s alma mater) or pursue a completely different career in business or entertainment, the "football" label is something the media wants for him more than he might want for himself.
We’ve seen it a thousand times: the son of a legend tries to live up to the name and ends up burnt out. It seems like the Brady-Moynahan co-parenting team is actively trying to avoid that. They're letting him be a basketball player, a student, and just a regular guy who happens to have a very famous father.
Your "Jack Brady" Checklist
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, remember these three things:
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- The Position: He played QB in high school and had the "arm," but hasn't pursued it at the elite collegiate level.
- The Height: He’s now taller than Tom, which makes him a more natural fit for basketball.
- The Name: Don't confuse him with the college kickers or D3 receivers you see on sports databases.
The takeaway? Don't bet on seeing another Brady under center in the NFL anytime soon. If you want to follow Jack's journey, keep an eye on the basketball courts or the sidelines of high-profile games where he's just hanging out with his dad. He’s writing his own story, and right now, that story doesn't involve a huddle.
Practical Next Steps
- Verify the Roster: If you see a "Jack Brady" on a college football roster, check the "Hometown" or "High School" section. Tom's son went to school in New York City, not Florida or upstate New York.
- Follow Social Media Carefully: Most "updates" about Jack come from Tom Brady's official Instagram. This is the most reliable source for seeing which sport the kid is actually into this month.
- Ignore the Hype: Avoid "scouting reports" from unofficial sites; since Jack isn't a 5-star recruit, most of that data is just SEO fluff or based on other people with the same name.