In Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, Tom Brady made his long-awaited debut as a broadcaster on FOX, stepping into the booth at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, began his new role alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt for the season opener between the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys.
Burkhardt introduced Brady with, “He’s Tom Brady, and I’m Kevin Burkhardt,” and addressed Brady’s new role, stating, “And you’re a broadcaster, how about that?” Brady responded with, “We’re here. It’s been quite a journey, but I love being your partner.”
Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with FOX Sports in 2022, though he delayed his broadcasting career to play one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring.
Brady’s first broadcast was characterized by a performance that mirrored his playing career—a tale of two halves. His initial segments resembled an exploratory phase as he adapted to his new role, while his commentary in the latter half demonstrated increased confidence and energy. Prior to his debut, Brady and Burkhardt conducted extensive mock games to prepare.
Despite this preparation, Brady faced challenges early on. He mistakenly referred to Browns receiver Amari Cooper as a defensive player and mispronounced Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s name. An awkward moment occurred when Brady tried to fist-bump FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira, who did not initially notice the gesture.
Nevertheless, Brady’s football instincts were evident. He effectively highlighted key defensive plays by the Dallas Cowboys and used the Telestrator to analyze pivotal moments, including Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons’ impact on a Deshaun Watson pass and the performance of other key players such as Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb.
Replacing former All-Pro tight end Greg Olsen as FOX’s lead analyst, Brady’s performance will be closely watched to see if FOX’s investment results in increased viewership. Despite his extensive experience on the field, Brady acknowledged his inexperience in the broadcast booth, stating, “I do what they tell me. I’m still a rookie here. I’m wrong a lot.”
During the postgame show, host Curt Menefee and panelist Michael Strahan praised Brady’s debut. Strahan remarked, “I’m going to the person, not even on the field, but with probably even more press than anyone on the field—Tom Brady. Congratulations, Tom. Welcome to FOX. Got your first one under the belt, big boy. Who won the day? Tom Brady, for me.”
Brady also shared a tip from Strahan, saying, “I might get out there tomorrow and throw some passes just to remember what it feels like. As Michael Strahan told me pregame, ‘You’re gonna wake up tomorrow morning and you ain’t gonna be sore.’ That I’m very happy about.”
As the season progresses, Brady is expected to improve his chemistry with Burkhardt and adapt to his new role. He faces restrictions due to his potential future role as a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, including limitations on attending in-person or online broadcast production meetings and accessing team facilities. FOX did not respond to a request for comment.
At the end of his first broadcast, Brady expressed his enthusiasm for the NFL season, stating, “It’s great that the NFL season is underway. Great for the fans, great for everyone that loves football.”
