Tom Brady’s NFL Broadcasting Debut: Room for Growth
CLEVELAND – Despite Tom Brady’s unparalleled NFL career, it doesn’t guarantee he’ll excel as a broadcaster right away. The skills required for football don’t automatically translate to sports commentary. However, the encouraging news for Brady is that he can follow a similar trajectory to his playing days by improving over time. His debut on Sunday, during the Dallas Cowboys’ 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns, had its ups and downs and may not be memorable.
By the time Super Bowl 59 arrives in February, both Brady and his broadcasting partner Kevin Burkhardt will need to elevate their on-air performance. Nonetheless, Brady’s debut with FOX wasn’t a total disaster.
There have been worse introductions in the transition from player to broadcaster, notably Drew Brees, who struggled at NBC, and Jason Witten, who left “Monday Night Football” after a disappointing season to return to the Cowboys.
It was evident that Brady’s offseason practice with the FOX team focused on concise commentary. At times, he was a bit too brief. A significant moment came when Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks while facing heavy pressure; FOX had to revisit Brady for a more detailed analysis because his initial comments were lacking.
I hadn’t thought of Brady’s voice as “high-pitched” until Boomer Esiason brought it up last week. Listening to Brady discuss football in detail was somewhat surprising. However, his voice shouldn’t significantly hinder his broadcasting success.
Brady is stepping into the role previously held by the well-liked Greg Olsen, who collaborated well with Burkhardt due to their common New Jersey background. Olsen quickly became one of the top analysts in the field, serving as a benchmark for Brady to aim for. The chemistry between Burkhardt and Brady appeared solid, with Burkhardt humorously mentioning his hair gel for added on-air flair, to which Brady humbly responded that he’s still the rookie.
Consistent with expectations, Brady largely refrained from negative commentary even when faced with Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s poor performance. He mentioned that Prescott was “lucky” not to have thrown an interception late in the first quarter. He provided a decent analysis of Micah Parsons dealing with chip blocks and corrected Burkhardt, explaining, “he got a chip and beat it!” Brady also attempted to give insight into Prescott’s mindset as he faced pressure from reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett.
Brady seems to operate under a guideline to keep his remarks positive. Outside the broadcast realm, he’s nearing ownership of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, which subjects him to certain league restrictions. For instance, he cannot attend FOX production meetings due to his association with the Raiders, nor can he engage in critical discussions about referees or other teams, making it tricky for him to provide the candid insights fans want to hear.
In his debut, Brady’s early commentary felt more like an armchair quarterback than a GOAT-level analysis. As the game progressed, he grew more comfortable, discussing what he believes has led to a decline in offensive line play in recent seasons.
The on-field performance did not help him make strong points, as illustrated by some of his comments:
- “The fastest way to advance is to go vertical.”
- “Get the ball into the hands of your playmakers.”
- “Negative plays can be very damaging.”
Burkhardt did his best to encourage deeper discussions, such as asking Brady about his preferences between man or zone coverage.
The timing between Brady and Burkhardt generally worked well, especially early in the game. Brady offered a commendable exclamation following a great catch by CeeDee Lamb without interrupting Burkhardt but rather expressing a “wow!” He also gave a nod to Tony Romo with an excited “oh!” during the Cooks touchdown. Staying out of Romo’s territory may be beneficial for Brady. Some of his more insightful comments emerged during the dominating stretches of the game when he elaborated on the challenges of facing Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
“I played for a coach who had no qualms about letting players have it,” Brady noted, referring to Bill Belichick, his previous coach and broadcasting rookie.
Connecting with emotions could become a strength for Brady if done correctly. He accepted this role because of his passion for football, which was echoed in a promotional commercial aired the week of the game. As a potential part-owner of an NFL team, relatability may be challenging, yet he should channel that enthusiasm into his commentary to engage the audience.
“NFL RedZone” host Scott Hanson humorously remarked that Brady needed to show more enthusiasm, particularly when the Cowboys considered allowing kicker Brandon Aubrey to attempt a 71-yard field goal after a previous 66-yarder was negated by a penalty.
“Come on, Brady needs to be more excited up there,” Hanson commented.
Hanson later offered a light-hearted apology on social media for his remarks.
The key to success in sports broadcasting is authenticity. For many years, the Patriot Way had limited Brady to a scripted persona. Those who believed he’d naturally transition into the booth due to his extensive experience might need to reassess their expectations.
His time on camera has exposed the fact that responding to questions—often with the intention of saying nothing—is quite different from delivering meaningful commentary. Taking a moment to think about one’s words is not just prudent; it is often appreciated by viewers during press conferences. However, in the broadcasting booth, such carefulness can seem different.
As he spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady began to open up more. Nevertheless, it was primarily his performance that spoke volumes. Now, Tom Brady, both as a public figure and entrepreneur, faces the challenge of revealing his true self in his 40s, not in his 20s—speaking to an audience that could reach 20 million every Sunday afternoon.
Brady has 20 more games to play—perhaps fewer if he decides to take a bye week—before he faces the pivotal moment at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans during Super Bowl 59. He isn’t fully prepared for that yet. However, it’s worth noting how many teams find their rhythm by Week 1 of the season and end up at the Super Bowl. FOX is counting on a similar path for Brady, hoping he grows into his role over the next few months so that the big game will resonate with fans.