Candice Swanepoel Is in No Rush to Get Serious with Tom Brady Despite Recent Engagement Speculation, Source Says

One gold band on a left hand during a casual outing sparked a wave of speculation about the supermodel and the retired football star. However, a source close to the model says the real story is far more relaxed, shaped by busy schedules, children, and lives that are already full.

Fans notice small details, and on October 30, 2026, they found one. On that day, Candice Swanepoel, 38, stepped out in a white camisole paired with a strappy dark top, matching leggings, sneakers, sunglasses, and a baseball cap.

Her jewelry included a pinky ring, a matching bracelet, and a gold band on her left ring finger. That band set off talk that she and retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady, 49, might be engaged.

However, a source close to the model told People exclusively that the talk is wrong. Swanepoel isn't engaged, and she isn't hurrying to put a label on the relationship. Instead, the model is enjoying Brady's company, but her kids and her career keep her plate full.

According to reports, the retired NFL star is independent and busy as well, which suits her. They go on dates when they can and have fun. "It's not a super intense relationship," the insider added, and both are glad to see each other when their schedules line up.

How It Came Together

News of the pairing first came from Us Weekly, and People confirmed on October 25, 2026, that the two were dating. One source said they had been together for a while. Another said the romance started earlier in the summer, after mutual friends introduced them in Miami, where both live.

They had been moving in the same social circle. According to that insider, Swanepoel appreciates that Brady is attentive and goes out of his way to make time together feel special.

What They Have in Common

Fitness and family give the couple common ground. A source told People earlier that Swanepoel values how seriously Brady takes time with his children, and that both are very focused on their kids.

The former quarterback has a son, Jack, 19, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan. He also has a son, Benjamin, 16, and a daughter, Vivian, 13, with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, to whom he was married from 2009 to 2022.

Bündchen, 46, welcomed a son with her partner, Joaquim Valente, in February 2025. As for Swanepoel, the Victoria's Secret Angel has two sons, Anacan, ten, and Ariel, seven, with her former fiancé, Hermann Nicoli. They dated for 14 years, got engaged in 2015, and split in 2018.

A Packed Calendar

Brady has addressed how full his days are. Earlier this year, he joked with People that he has little time for a personal life or for himself, though he loves his work and his children.

He said he likes staying busy and feeling fulfilled, and that he is involved in several projects with teams doing positive things. Between two full schedules and five children combined, the pair seems content to let things unfold without pressure.