• Former NFL quarterback announces pit bull mix cloned using blood sample collected before Lua’s 2023 death
• Brady partnered with Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company he invests in, for the cloning process
• Revelation coincides with Colossal’s acquisition of Viagen Pets, which cloned dogs for Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (TDR) — Former NFL superstar Tom Brady revealed Tuesday that his current dog, Junie, is a clone of his beloved late pet Lua, who died in December 2023, sending shockwaves across social media as fans processed the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s futuristic approach to pet loss.

The now-Fox Sports broadcaster made the stunning disclosure in a statement released by Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company focused on de-extinction efforts where Brady serves as an investor. The pit bull mix was cloned using a blood sample collected before Lua’s death, giving Brady’s family what he called “a second chance” with their cherished companion.

Celebrity joins growing pet cloning trend

“I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family,” Brady said in the statement obtained by People magazine. “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.”

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Lua was adopted by Brady and his ex-wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, more than a decade ago and became a fixture in their family life alongside children Benjamin, 15, and Vivian, 12. During Brady’s tenure with the New England Patriots, he was frequently spotted walking Lua along Boston’s Charles River, and she even starred in his 2014 Ugg Australia commercial.

The timing of Brady’s announcement coincided with Colossal’s acquisition of Viagen Pets and Equine, a Texas-based company that has made headlines for cloning pets for celebrities including Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton. Viagen holds exclusive licensing rights to technologies developed by the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, the facility famous for cloning Dolly the sheep.

From football legend to biotech investor

Bündchen first announced Lua’s passing on Instagram in December 2023, sharing photos of the beloved pet with their children. “Our little Lulu, our guardian angel is gone to heaven,” the supermodel wrote. “She will forever live in our hearts. We already miss her sooooo much!”

Brady also posted a tribute at the time, writing on Instagram Stories: “We love you Lua, RIP.”

“In a few short months, Colossal gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog.”

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The revelation showcases Brady’s growing involvement in cutting-edge biotechnology. Colossal Biosciences describes itself as “developing the science that will save us, our planet, and the species that inhabit it” and gained international attention in April when it claimed to have successfully birthed three dire wolf pups using DNA from specimens that went extinct over 12,500 years ago.

The company is also working to bring back other extinct species including the woolly mammoth and dodo bird, using CRISPR gene-editing technology and analyzing ancient genome sequences. These animals are housed on a 2,000-acre ecological preserve monitored by veterinarians, drones, and live cameras.

Science meets sentiment

Brady emphasized that the technology serves dual purposes. “I’m excited how Colossal and Viagen’s tech together can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species,” he said in his statement.

The pet cloning industry is valued at over $5 billion globally and expected to continue growing through 2030, according to Grand View Research. However, the process remains controversial, with animal rights advocates questioning the ethics of cloning and legal experts noting the absence of federal consumer protections governing pet cloning services.

For Brady, though, the decision appears deeply personal. Junie shares Lua’s distinctive brown coloring and markings, and the NFL legend has been spotted with his genetically identical companion at his Florida home on Indian Creek Island, where the familiar sight of man and dog together continues a tradition that began years ago in Boston.

Would you clone your beloved pet if given the opportunity and resources?

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