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NFL legend Tom Brady has revealed something that made headlines across the sports and science worlds. His new dog, Junie, is not just another pet he welcomed into his family. She is a genetic twin of pit bull mix Lua, who passed away in December 2023. Junie was brought to life through cloning technology by Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company where Brady is an investor. The announcement, which came on November 4, 2025, showed the world that when it comes to honoring loved ones, even the greatest athletes turn to cutting-edge science to find a second chance. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Tom Brady’s bond with Lua: From family pet to cloning inspiration Tom Brady and ex-wife Gisele Bündchen adopted Lua from a local animal shelter back in 2014, making her part of their growing family early in their marriage. The brown pit bull mix became a fixture in their household, appearing alongside Brady in a 2014 Ugg Australia commercial and making regular appearances in his social media posts. Lua was there through his Patriots years, the move to Tampa Bay, Super Bowl victories, and even the highly publicized divorce between the couple that finalized in October 2022. Lua became more than just a pet; she was a constant companion during one of the most turbulent chapters of Brady’s personal life. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad On December 23, 2023, just two days before Christmas, both Brady and Bündchen announced Lua’s passing on Instagram with heartbreaking tributes. Brady wrote, “We love you Lua. RIP” and “Forever in our hearts.” Brady’s grief ran deep enough that he reached out to Colossal Biosciences about cloning his dog. In a blog post, Brady described his first conversation with Ben Lamm, Colossal’s co-founder and CEO, at a conference where the CEO was speaking about cloning and genetic engineering. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Brady added that his first question was half-joking but deeply sincere: could they clone his elderly dog, Lua? Lamm replied that while de-extinction was their main focus, technically, they could. That conversation stayed with Brady.
