Tom Brady has admitted the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for him to adjust to life in Tampa Bay after he brought to an end his 20-year association with the New England Patriots earlier this year.

The 39-year-old quarterback signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March, having previously spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, with whom he won six Super Bowls and 17 division championships – both records for a quarterback.

But his move to Florida has coincided with the pandemic, and taken Brady to a state that has struggled to contain the outbreak. Over the weekend, Florida surpassed 200,000 cases of coronavirus, leading to elements of lockdown being reintroduced.

"There needs to be some naivety, not fully understanding the odds you would need to overcome to achieve some of these dreams," he said. "In my case there was very much a blessing that I never questioned those odds, I just stayed true to what my dream was."

Brady equated acting in the film with playing in the NFL.

"In both ways you're playing a role," he said. "I'm always playing a role on the team as well. I slip into a uniform.

"Over the course of a week we 'rehearse' a lot of plays, there's a lot of dress rehearsals and then the intensity of the moment, the performance where you can let your true authentic feelings show themselves.

"The difference is, if I screw up in the game I don't get a second chance."