Tom Brady Reveals Kobe Bryant's Death Changed His View Of Life, Brought Him 'So Many Tears'

Tom Brady opened up about Kobe Bryant and confessed how the death of the basketball great has kept him up all night and brought him so many tears. The NFL superstar wrote a heartfelt letter on the day Bryant was being honored in a memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, calling the LA icon a “real superhero” who has affected so many lives through the values he exemplified inside the court.

Brady posted the long message on his Twitter account. There he mentioned how devastated he was when he learned about the tragedy that also took the lives of Bryant’s daughter Gianna and seven others.

"I have been deeply affected by the passing of Kobe, Gigi and the others in that tragic flight weeks ago," Brady wrote. "Since then, I've witnessed the well-deserved outpouring of love and support for the families that had so much left to give, and it’s helped me reflect and gain perspective. I know that love and peace and joy will always endure.”

The six-time Super Bowl champion likewise bared how the unfortunate incident changed his overall view of life. “In this tragedy, I have learned so much," he added.

"Why has this touched me in the way it did? Why has it kept me up at night, and brought me so many tears? In Kobe, we were able to witness the man in the arena. For many of us, sports show what we are made of, they define our personalities and emotions. We cannot hide from the good or the bad, from the wins or the losses… the joy and despair, the happiness and the pain."

"For some, these days are the pinnacle in their life, and there's nothing wrong with that but it’s clear to me, for Kobe, that was how he lived his life in every way. In his second chapter, you saw even more. You saw his excitement for life, and for achieving in areas only he thought possible. He became more of an entrepreneur, media mogul, father, husband, and mentor among other roles."

"And he didn’t stop with himself. Kobe didn’t care whether you were a man or woman, boy or girl, black or white, rich or poor, ordinary or extraordinary, he wanted to help you become the best you could be. His mere presence had an effect on everybody he was around. He had the energy to recognize in others what they could not recognize in themselves."

The last part of Brady’s letter had a series of questions posted as a challenge to continue Bryant’s legacy by approaching life the way the late sports figure did.

“Now who is going to do the work that is still here to be done? Who is going to fight and break the norms with love and joy and inspiration? Who is going to discard fear, and doubt, and hate? Who is going to carry the load and be the superhero that he was?" Brady asked. "The answer is simple to me, ALL OF US. Decide to make the change in yourself. If there is anything I have learned and been inspired by through this tragic event, it is this, SEIZE THE DAY. That’s what Kobe always did, and that’s what he wanted for us too."