From the second Tom Brady inked his deal with FOX, there was doubt that he’d ever broadcast a single game for the network.
That doubt remains today, and if anything, it’s growing.
Brady, now ostensibly retired for good, is supposed to take over as FOX’s No. 1 analyst beginning in the 2024 season. Right now, that role is filled by Greg Olsen, who largely has gotten positive reviews in the booth. To no fault of his own though, Olsen obviously doesn’t carry the same name recognition as Brady.
The entire discussion around Brady as a broadcaster has been couched with the caveat that he might not do it. He never has been the most vibrant public personality in the first place, and his retirement flip-flop last year shows he’s not unwilling to renege on a big decision.
New York Post media insider Andrew Marchand said Wednesday on the “Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast” that after speaking to some people around Brady, he’s leaning towards Brady backing out.
“(My Brady-Meter) was at 51 percent that he’s going to do it to 49 percent, with the reasoning that it’s so much money he’ll try it for a year,” Marchand said. “However, I’ve talked to a couple people recently close to Brady, I kind of feel like I’m going more 49 percent chance he does it, 51 percent chance he doesn’t.
“I don’t think he wants to travel that much. Obviously he would go private, but I think Brady is a guy who when he’s in, he’s all in. He’s not going to be showing up day of games like Joe Buck and (Troy) Aikman do sometimes. He’s going to be there early if he’s going to do it, so it’s a four-day event. Again, cry me a river for that type of money for five and a half months, but he shares his kids with Gisele, I think that’s very important to him, and he can make money elsewhere."
Marchand made clear that his 51/49 belief has already fluctuated and there’s plenty of time for more fluctuation, but the final two points he makes are big ones.
Not only is Brady comfortable financially in the first place, but he also dabbles in other side ventures. He doesn't need to do the FOX gig, and by virtue of just being Tom Brady, he’ll always be profitable. He could find something that would make him money for less of a time commitment.
He’s also beat the drum both prior to and since retiring about the time he has missed with his family because of football. It would be a stunner if he mailed in the prep for being a broadcaster, and the role does not lend itself to a low-key schedule. Someone just getting off the grind of an NFL schedule for north of two decades probably wouldn’t want to jump back into it -- especially after bemoaning the time missed with loved ones.
None of this is to say he won’t be there for FOX when Week 1 rolls around in 2024. But there’s widespread enough doubt now to think that until the headset is actually on, Brady becoming an analyst is no sure thing.
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