Few people on earth travel as often as professional athletes. With On the Road, the GQ Sports Travel Questionnaire, they’re weighing in on everything from room service to flying comfortably to their favorite chain restaurants.
Tom Brady technically lives in Miami, but these days he’s living a very Carmen San Diego-esque life. On top of his sports commentator gig at Fox, which takes him across the NFL map, he’s got a new partnership with Delta. When I sat down with Brady last week, he was posted up in the brand new Delta One Lounge in Boston’s Logan International Airport, which he helped design and where loyal fliers enjoy high-end dining in hushed privacy. “It’s not about flying, it’s about creating an environment where people can be stress-free,” Brady says, describing Delta’s emphasis on customer service. “A little better food, easier check-in, things like that make the experience great.”
When the seven-time Super Bowl champ, who retired from football in 2023, isn’t breaking down football games on Sunday or spending time with his three kids, he skis in the winter or, when he needs some sun, blisses out on the beach in the Bahamas. “Delta is the greatest airline in America,” he says. “You go there and see the command center, and I was blown away. It’s one thing to impact a football team of 53 players and 30 coaches. It’s another thing to impact 100-to-200,000 employees, as well as 150,000 flights every day.”
When he’s on the move, the 47-year-old keeps several must-have items on deck, including an essential that keeps him looking his best on live television every Sunday.
GQ: What sort of things do you like in an airport lounge?
Brady: A little privacy, because it’s a time to make calls. If you’re getting on a flight across the ocean, or to go to the West Coast, you’re on the plane for five and a half hours and you’re probably not making calls. Where can I get a little private time? Zoom stuff, I get there a little early, it’s great. People automatically come into the environment with less stress. You rush through the airport, you’re dealing with traffic, there’s the check-in. Everything we can do to make that customer experience better, that’s what it’s all about. It’s a stressful world we’re living in, man.
When I was playing, I didn’t want to let people down. I don’t want to go see Tom Hanks do a shitty movie. I want to see that guy put his best performance out there! On a much bigger scale, all the people at Delta take pride in their job too. Whether it’s LA, New York, Atlanta, there’s so much pride in what people do to ensure that the travel experience is great.
When you’re traveling, whether it’s for business or pleasure, what are your top three travel essentials?
Dude, I’ve been trying to get more efficient with my travel. It’s kind of a long story. Like, I’ve been on the road a lot—more than I can ever remember in the last few years. I decided to pack a bag that always has all my stuff in it.
A go bag!
A go bag. It’s a big, black Patagonia bag. Do you want me to tell you everything that’s in it?
Please!
I have all my workout bands. I have all my electrolytes and supplements that I always bring. I have all my toiletries. I have hair clippers, in case I need those for some reason. I have all the chargers. I have protein bars in a Tupperware thing.
