I still remember my first game called by NBC. It was 2013. Stamford Bridge. Manchester City versus Chelsea. The cameras rolled… and… what? My legs were shaking.
It’s easy to not talk to anyone, but on live television everything has to be perfectly organized and on time. It’s a completely different game, as Jason Kelce and Tom Brady are starting to discover.
The former Eagles center said s*** in his first sentence on ESPN and Brady has received a ton of criticism following his FOX Sports debut.
I never watched my first game again. I’ll leave it where it belongs: in the archives! But here I am, 11 years later.
Brady has already played one game of his 10-year, $375 million contract as a FOX commentator and Kelce is the new NFL analyst for ESPN. Two great players, two great jobs.
Both Jason Kelce and Tom Brady have moved to broadcasting for the 2024 NFL season.
DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard has built a successful career as an NBC sports analyst.
In some ways, broadcasting is no different than playing: the nerves are the same before a big game. The big difference? When you’re on a team, the focus extends to the whole group. Behind the microphone, however, once the red light goes on, the responsibility is yours.
I’ve struggled with OCD and Tourette’s since I was a kid. But when I decided to move from the field to the studio, the biggest change was understanding my cadence and my voice: How do I want to convey to the viewer? What tone am I going to adopt? How tough do I want to be?
That’s something that’s never considered in everyday life. That’s what Kelce and Brady must now figure out on the job.
The former quarterback was always going to be the subject of criticism. He faces so much scrutiny and generates so much hype. I thought he did well, but he could have been flawless and it wouldn’t have mattered. People would have found something to criticize.
I still get insulted by fans, but I stopped worrying about it a long time ago. I once realized something important: as long as my employers keep giving me contracts, as long as they keep praising me, that’s all that matters. The same applies now.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time.
Kelce (No. 62) spent 13 years as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles before moving into television.
This career change should be a little easier for Kelce. Not only because he’s now sitting behind a desk instead of calling the game live, but because broadcasting is his thing.
Like his brother Travis, Kelce is a big-time character with mass appeal. Unfortunately, that only gets you so far on television. The rest comes with hard work.
When I was a player, my routine was dominated by rituals and superstitions. I never found out what difference they actually made; that was a risk I wasn’t willing to take! Now, as an analyst, it’s no different.
I make sure I’m prepared in every aspect. I have three times as many notes as I’ll ever need on air. I’m locked in every Thursday and Friday. Sometimes even Wednesdays. I watch press conferences, interviews, recaps, and movies. Everything.
I was warned from the beginning: prepare more than you will ever need. I remembered that and I stick to it. When I started, I also leaned on those around me at NBC, particularly Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe.
Former goalkeeper Howard was recently inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Howard is pictured with fellow NBC analysts Robbie Earle (center) and Robbie Mustoe (right).
I would watch them and then ask them questions: How do I handle this situation? Would you suggest a different route? If they liked what they saw, they would tell me. And if they didn’t, they would let me know.
NBC bosses are also very hands-on. They won’t let you fail. If something doesn’t work, they’ll tell you and show you how to do it differently.
So what’s my number one piece of advice for Brady and Kelce? Lean on your co-hosts and find a good rhythm. Once you get that down, it’s game over.
I have no doubt that Jason’s value will continue to rise. He can become one of the great personalities of American television. Why? He’s real. He takes his shirt off. He drinks beers. People want that and people love it.
As for Brady, well, he went from being the 199th pick in the draft to being the most successful quarterback of all time.
So I have no doubt that he’s going to be great. He’s such a confident kid that once he gets more reps under his belt, he’ll find his voice and everything will fall into place. Honestly, once Brady gets settled in, there’s going to be no stopping him.