Fox Sports producers are pushing Tom Brady to focus more on technical analysis in his role as their £300million ($375m) NFL analyst.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion has completed his first 10 games in the broadcast booth alongside play-by-play voice Kevin Burkhardt as Fox’s No. 1 commentary duo.
Whilst Brady has shown progression throughout the season, his bosses are keen for him to incorporate more detailed observations of on-field play into his commentary.
In his initial broadcasts, Brady has focused primarily on aspects beyond the playbook, highlighting leadership qualities of star players.
The former quarterback has placed particular emphasis on young player development and veteran accountability rather than technical analysis.
This approach differs from most former players who transition to broadcasting, who typically rely heavily on breaking down gaps and blocking schemes in their commentary.
Tom Brady has work to do to impress his Fox Sports bosses
Reuters
Brady’s style has shown steady improvement week by week, though producers are eager for more tactical insights.
According to John Ourand’s report: “When most players leave the NFL for the broadcast booth, they immediately lean on X’s and O’s as their crutch.
“Seemingly every play, they dissect gaps and blocking schemes.”
However, Brady has taken a different approach in his first 10 games as Fox Sports’ top analyst.
“Fox producers have been pushing Brady to incorporate more of what he’s seeing on the field—duh—into his commentary,” Ourand noted.
These technical observations are reportedly “starting to pop up more frequently on the broadcast.”
Brady’s journey in the broadcast booth has shown a clear progression from his early appearances.
Initially quieter while finding his footing, he has worked to improve his timing and reduce silent gaps in commentary.
Fox insiders remain confident in Brady’s continued development, drawing parallels to his NFL career where he proved to be a quick learner.
Tom Brady penned a $375million deal with Fox Sports
FOX SPORTS
After early struggles replacing Drew Bledsoe as Patriots quarterback, Brady went on to lead the team to a Super Bowl victory over the Rams.
Brady’s new broadcasting role has faced additional scrutiny due to his minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
The deal, agreed in May 2023, was delayed due to questions about his media responsibilities.
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Tom Brady has to be careful what he says on commentary due to the fact he is an NFL owner
Reuters
As an NFL owner, Brady must follow specific broadcasting restrictions, including being barred from entering team locker rooms.
He is also prohibited from publicly criticising match officials, with Dan Patrick suggesting these are “Tom Brady rules” specifically created to allow him to manage both roles.