A young fan nearly brought Tom Brady to tears during his hour-long podium session ahead of the Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas.
During a Q&A with the media, a 7-year-old reporter posed one of the best questions of the night. "Many people say you're their hero, but who's your hero?" he asked the New England Patriots quarterback.
"Who's my hero? That's a great question. Well, I think my dad is my hero," Brady answered. "Because he's someone I look up to every day. And, uh ..."
Emotional answer from Tom Brady when asked if his dad speaks for him. Must watch. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/CtUkI0enx2
— Steve Buckley (@BuckinBoston) January 31, 2017
Getting slightly choked up, he added, "My dad."
Last week, Brady's father made some controversial comments about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Deflategate. The 39-year-old athlete joked in an interview with ESPN that his dad was now "banned" from speaking to the media.
During Monday's press conference, Brady was asked again about his father's comments -- which included referring to Goodell as a liar and accusing him of going a "witch hunt" against his son. "Well, I'd say my dad represents his feelings, because he's a dad, and I'm a dad and, …" Brady-- who has three kids of his own -- said, nearly choking up again. "He was just a great example for me, and he was always someone who supported me in everything I did, to come home at night and bring me out, hit me ground balls and fly balls. I loved baseball growing up."
During his chat with ESPN, Brady also praised his father. "He's a great man and I love him to death. He's taught me everything about life, and certainly how to be a father, because he's been the best one a son could ever ask for," he gushed. "I try to pass those things on to my kids because he was supportive of me. My three sisters were all great athletes. My mom, they're still married after, I guess it would be close to 46 years. So I've been very, very fortunate."
Last September, Brady spoke to ET about what fatherhood is like for him. "[Off time] is usually focused around the kids, you know, you spend so much time with them and trying to be a parent -- which is such an important part of our lives -- so, whatever they're into, that's kind of what you do," he shared. "You try to support them and the things that they're doing, and encourage them in different ways."