Tom Brady’s Heading To The Booth When (If?) He Retires
Mike Ehrmann | Getty Images
Fox Sports has its newest team member. Tom Brady just got PAID by the media giant to join their broadcasting team, so how does this change things for broadcasting and the course of his career?
Tim Warner | Getty Images
On Tuesday morning, it was revealed that Brady will be signing a monumental contract with Fox Sports, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter, to join the company’s broadcasting team and become an ambassador for the media and entertainment platform.
The contract details revealed it will change the way broadcasting hirings for former athletes is as we know it. Brady will sign a deal that will pay him $375 million over 10 years, the biggest contract in broadcasting history. He will not only be the Lead NFL Analyst, but also a key ambassador, with many thinking this will make him the new face of Fox Sports. Brady will join this team immediately after his football career ends, and will be alongside Kevin Burkhardt in the booth on Sundays and during the primetime NFL slots that Fox Sports owns. It was also revealed that he will also be focusing on "client and promotional initiatives” with the company, according to ESPN.com. Brady said in a recent tweet that he is excited, but has a lot of unfinished business on the field with the Buccaneers (via @tombrady).
What Will Brady Be Bringing To The Booth?
Elise Amendola | AP Photos
On the field, Brady has without a doubt accomplished more than any other NFL player, with his numerous accolades and statistics. So in the booth, he brings his knowledge of teams and his revered reputation with him. He has been known to be a machine with watching and breaking down film as a player, so it’ll be compelling to see and hear how he breaks down what is happening in a game live as a colored commentator, which is the position he will most likely be in. Like other former NFL quarterbacks turned analysts like Troy Aikman and Tony Romo, Brady also brings his knowledge of the offensive side of football and how he can read defenses and strategies. He’ll bring his one-of-a-kind personality to the microphone, and show how he sees live football as a fan. One thing he also brings however which will be a treat to hear are his thoughts on the direction in which the game is moving.
Stephan Savoia | AP Photos
In the past few years, viewers have seen Brady take a large step forward in becoming an advocate and voice into how the game of football is changing. Recently, Brady has been vocal about penalties and how offensive and defensive players have been treated by penalties, so his opinion will be valuable to hear as a game moves on live. Brady, without a doubt, has the experience and knowledge that others wouldn’t, and also has an opinion that people would listen to as they tune in to game coverage. His voice, alongside Burkhardt, will advocate for players, from a player’s perspective, and will also grow the game as the NFL hopes to appeal to younger audiences growing up with hopes to play football.
This is a monster move by Fox Sports, with a monster of a contract. $375 million is a pretty penny to pay for an analyst, but this proves that Brady might be an exception, while also changing the game for other players looking to become a broadcaster. Could this be a new trend? Could we see superstar players cut their careers short to join media and entertainment? Only time will tell, as Brady and the NFL work toward the 2022-2023 season.
With the most experienced and accomplished mind in football in its booth, Fox Sports looks to gain that top position in football broadcasting, with this mountainous step forward.
