A rumor circulating online in early November 2025 claimed that retired football star Tom Brady made a statement in which he admitted to cloning his dog before she died using the company Colossal Biosciences.
Users shared the rumor on social media platforms like X (archived), Instagram (archived) and Facebook (archived), which alleged Brady claimed he used Colossal’s “non-invasive cloning technology through a simple blood draw of our family’s elderly dog before she passed.”
The statement was allegedly shared in conjunction with a news release from Colossal announcing the acquisition of Viagen, which the release described as “the world’s leading cloning company” with a specialty for “advanced animal reproduction and preservation services for pets, equine, and endangered species.”
Some posts spreading the claim about Brady’s dog included photos of the NFL star and his late pet, Lua, that died in 2023.
Brady’s quote did not appear in the public-facing news release distributed by Colossal, but a variety of media outlets including People, Today, The Ringer, USA Today and The Guardian reported Brady made the statement alongside news of the Viagen acquisition.
A spokesperson for Colossal told Snopes via email that members of the press were given a quote sheet with comments from investors, including Brady, which matched the statement circulating in media reports.
Brady’s statement from the quote sheet read in full:
I love my animals. 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. In a few short months, Colossal gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog. I am excited how Colossal and Viagen’s tech together can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species.
Colossal’s website also listed Brady as a “partner” on its “team” page.
Snopes reached out to Brady’s team for confirmation about the quote and will update this article if we receive a response. Until then, we’ve omitted a truth rating on this story.
Brady’s pitbull mix Lua was the subject of many social media posts by Brady and his ex-wife, model Gisele Bündchen. The credible image depository of Getty Images featured many photographs of Brady with Lua as far back as 2012.
In August 2024, British tabloid The Daily Mail posted photos of Brady with “an unidentified brown pitbull mix that resembles the couple’s old dog Lua,” which in retrospect appeared to be Junie, the clone in question.
The quote sheet provided by Colossal also included statements about the company’s acquisition of Viagen from other celebrity investors, including filmmaker Peter Jackson and businesswoman Paris Hilton.
Snopes previously reported on Colossal Biosciences, investigating the alleged “de-extinction” of dire wolves, which we found to be part cool science, part flashy marketing.
