Tom Brady has revealed that his new puppy, Junie, is not just a new addition to the family — but a clone of his late dog Lua, who passed away nearly two years ago.
The former NFL quarterback opened up about the unusual story in a recent statement, confirming that he turned to cutting-edge biotechnology to bring back a version of his beloved pet. “I love my animals,” Brady said. “They mean the world to me and my family. A few years ago, I worked with Colossal and leveraged their non-invasive cloning technology through a simple blood draw of our family’s elderly dog before she passed.”
That blood sample became the foundation for Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based company known for its work in genetic engineering and species revival, to clone Lua. The company, which recently acquired biotech firm ViaGen Pets and Equine, successfully created a genetic replica that Brady and his family have since welcomed into their home.
“A second chance with a clone of our beloved dog,” he said, adding that he hopes the technology can bring comfort to other families while contributing to conservation research. “I am excited how Colossal and Viagen’s tech together can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species.”
Brady, now 48, originally adopted Lua in 2014 with his then-wife Gisele Bündchen, during their marriage. The couple, who share two children together, often shared photos of Lua on social media before her passing in 2022.
Colossal Biosciences isn’t a newcomer to extraordinary headlines. The company made waves earlier this year when it announced the successful reintroduction of the dire wolf, the long-extinct species made famous by Game of Thrones. The team behind that breakthrough described it as “the revival of a species from its longstanding population of zero.”
The company is also involved in efforts to bring back other extinct creatures such as the woolly mammoth and the dodo bird, projects that have captivated the scientific community and the public alike.
Meanwhile, ViaGen Pets, which Colossal has now brought under its wing, has been a major player in the cloning world since 2016. It first hit the headlines when Barbra Streisand revealed in 2018 that her two dogs, Fanny and Scarlett, were clones of her late Coton du Tulear, Samantha. Streisand explained her motivation in a heartfelt essay, writing: “I was so devastated by the loss of my dear Samantha after 14 years together that I just wanted to keep her with me in some way.”
However, she also reflected on the limits of cloning. “You can clone the look of a dog, but you can’t clone the soul,” she wrote. “Still, every time I look at their faces, I think of my Samantha... and smile.”
More recently, Paris Hilton made headlines for similar reasons when she revealed she had cloned her Chihuahua Diamond Baby into twin pups, Diamond and Baby, after the original dog ran away from home. The socialite described the experience as healing, saying during her reality series Paris in Love, “I just feel like part of me is missing. She was like my sister, my best friend, my sidekick. I’m so happy and grateful that Carter figured out a way to get her back.”
As more celebrities embrace the science of pet cloning, the debate continues over its emotional and ethical implications. Critics question whether cloning can ever truly replace a lost pet, while supporters view it as a remarkable way to preserve a cherished bond.
For Tom Brady, though, the sentiment seems deeply personal. Known for his discipline and devotion both on and off the field, the seven-time Super Bowl champion appears to have found comfort in science’s ability to bridge loss and memory. With Junie now part of the Brady family, the athlete says he’s focused on gratitude — and on celebrating what technology can do to keep connections alive.
“They mean the world to me and my family,” he said, “and I feel lucky that we had this opportunity.”
