NEW ORLEANS – Tom Brady described his inaugural season as FOX’s leading game analyst with one phrase: learning curve.

“I know I still have a long way to go before I’m polished as a broadcaster,” stated the seven-time Super Bowl champion during a conference call with reporters this Wednesday, just days before he covers Super Bowl 59 featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs alongside Kevin Burkhardt.

Brady referred to his first year in the booth as “a very positive challenge.”

“Part of life is about challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone to experience new things that can lead to personal growth,” he explained.

FOX confirmed Brady’s role as the top game analyst in March 2022. However, he played one last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and took a transitional year in 2023, stepping away from broadcasting.

“I realize I have at least nine more years in this role,” Brady emphasized, affirming his dedication to the job, “and hopefully even longer.”

Learning to assess himself in a new position has been an adjustment for Brady.

“There’s no scoreboard for us, other than honestly asking ourselves if we approached the game correctly and were properly prepared,” he said. “Ultimately, two aspects matter: was I confident in what I expressed, and did I enjoy the experience? If the answer to those two questions is ‘yes,’ then I think we did well.”

Burkhardt commended his colleague for embracing a challenging role he could have easily sidestepped.

“There’s a reason many avoid this part of the profession,” Burkhardt remarked. “It’s tough.”

He noted the significance of the connections in their line of work and appreciated developing a friendship with Brady during their time together.

“I truly believe you don’t need to be best friends with everyone in this industry… Tom and I have formed a great friendship through all the time we’ve spent together,” Burkhardt shared.

Brady has opened up to Burkhardt, who described him as a “great guy who has a deep passion for football.”

“The coolest part has been discovering who he really is,” Burkhardt noted.

The duo’s first live broadcast together was a United Football League match at Ford Field around eight months ago. Yet for Brady, it feels as if it were a decade ago considering the learning he has undergone since then.

“It’s been an incredible journey for me,” Brady shared, “being with the best teammates in the world. To showcase this amazing game and provide unique insights is truly a dream come true for me. I’m excited about what’s to come.”

How Tom Brady handled feedback during his initial broadcast year

Occasionally, friends will update him on reactions from social media and other aspects of the sports-media landscape. However, Brady’s primary goal remains to entertain the fans at home.

“You’ll never be able to please everyone,” Brady acknowledged.

He confessed to making errors—“I’ve had my fair share,” he admitted—but emphasized that, similar to his playing days, learning from those missteps is essential.

“You just have to put forth your best effort and have faith in yourself and your statements,” Brady explained. “I enjoy the opportunity to give the viewers a glimpse into my perspective.”

Brady described the rush of speaking live on television. Mistakes like mispronunciation or missing a stat are part of the process.

“I want to improve for next time,” he said, reiterating, “You just have to commit to doing your best and trust in yourself and your words. I love the chance to show viewers how I perceive the game.”

One of his main objectives is to simplify football’s intricacies for viewers. He pointed out that longer formats, like his radio show, allow him to delve deeper, whereas TV requires more concise commentary.

Brady mentioned he doesn’t want to be overly critical as it detracts from the viewing experience.

“You’re never attacking the player,” Brady explained. “You critique the play, not the player.”

“You have to navigate carefully when determining ‘What really was happening?’”

Impact of Brady’s Raiders ownership on his broadcasting role

On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disclosed that Brady maintained communication with the league office throughout the season to ensure he adhered to guidelines preventing conflicts of interest due to his minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders versus his broadcasting responsibilities.

One key guideline was that Brady was not allowed to participate in production meetings, although the Chiefs made an exception for Super Bowl week.

Brady expressed that what he misses most about production meetings are the relationships that develop over time, both with the athletes he covers and his FOX colleagues. He keeps up with news conferences throughout the week to gather insights from publicly accessible media sessions.

“When it comes to my research, I don’t believe it affects me significantly,” Brady shared.

He characterized his role with the Raiders as “a long-term, behind-the-scenes kind of position.” He pointed out that the two jobs have “very different” responsibilities. When he’s on the air, he is entirely focused on broadcasting, “doing everything I can to excel for FOX Sports.”

“This year, my approach as a broadcaster has been immersive,” Brady reflected. “The reality is, Mark Davis is the owner of the Raiders, and I play a supportive, auxiliary role in realizing his vision.”

“I adore football and cherish that I can be involved with it for the rest of my life… not only as a broadcaster, which is certainly one avenue, but in a limited partner capacity as well. It’s an opportunity I wish many other players could experience.”