Tom Brady has revealed that his family’s dog Junie is actually a clone of their late pit bull mix, Lua.
After Lua passed away in December 2023, the retired NFL legend welcomed Junie, a dog that looked strikingly similar. Nearly two years later, Brady confirmed that Junie was created using cloning technology — a process made possible through Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company that he invests in.
Brady shared the news on Tuesday, November 4, coinciding with Colossal’s announcement that it had acquired another biotech firm, Viagen Pets and Equine — the same company known for cloning Barbra Streisand’s dog Samantha and Paris Hilton’s missing dog Diamond Baby. Viagen holds exclusive rights to cloning technologies developed by the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, the same institution that famously cloned Dolly the Sheep in the 1990s.
According to Brady, Lua was cloned using blood collected before her death. “I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family,” Brady said in a statement. “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.”
He added, “Colossal gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog. I’m excited about how Colossal and Viagen’s technologies together can not only comfort families who’ve lost their pets, but also help save endangered species.”
While Viagen is recognized for cloning celebrity pets, Colossal has made global headlines for its “de-extinction” research — including the creation of three dire wolf pups earlier this year and its ongoing project to bring back the extinct dodo bird.
Lua was originally adopted by Brady and his former wife, Gisele Bündchen, during their marriage and was a cherished part of their family for many years. She often appeared in Brady’s social media posts and even starred with him in a 2014 Ugg Australia commercial.
After Lua’s passing, Bündchen paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “Our little Lulu, our guardian angel, is gone to heaven. She will forever live in our hearts. We already miss her sooooo much! #unconditionallove RIPLua .”
Brady also shared photos of Lua with their children, Benjamin and Vivian, writing, “We love you Lua, RIP. Forever in our hearts.”