Tom Brady was probably feeling nervous when he stepped into the broadcast booth for the first time on Sunday afternoon and an awkward on-air interaction with one of his new colleagues would have done nothing to ease his anxiety.
The Cleveland Browns’ season-opening home game against the Dallas Cowboys marked the start of the 47-year-old’s 10-year, $375 million contract as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst.
However, Brady’s debut as a broadcaster did not get off to the best start. In addition to being criticized for the first time in the booth, the former quarterback suffered an on-air gaffe.
Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, who was calling the Cowboys-Browns game, were joined in the booth by Mike Pereira, the network’s longtime NFL rules analyst.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner and Pereira had an embarrassing exchange during the first half of the Cowboys’ victory when Brady attempted to take a punch from the analyst.
Tom Brady began his career as a Fox analyst alongside Kevin Burkhardt (left) on Sunday
The former quarterback was hung up by rules analyst Mike Pereira (left) during the game.
Burkhardt welcomed Pereira on the broadcast and told him “it was good to have you back,” prompting Brady to turn to the analyst and extend his fist.
However, Pereira spurned Brady’s attempt at camaraderie, prompting the NFL legend to plead, “Come on, don’t leave me hanging!” Pereira eventually reciprocated, albeit not enthusiastically.
Pereira has been with Fox since 2010 in his role as an NFL and college football rules analyst, providing insight into any play, call or circumstance that warrants an interpretation or explanation of the rules.
Pereira, a former NFL vice president of officiating, retired from the league in 2009 after 14 years.
It wasn’t the only humiliation Brady had to endure on Sunday night, as his debut was criticized by NFL fans online.
Throughout his glittering career on the field, Brady was named league MVP three times and Super Bowl MVP five times – the most of any player.
His biggest accolades, seven Super Bowl rings, are also the most by any player in league history.
But it seemed like his skills on the football field didn’t translate to the booth, as many fans were quick to criticize Brady’s debut on the microphone.
Pereira finally responded to the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s clenched fist.
Brady was criticized by NFL fans on social media for his broadcasting debut on Fox
Within 20 minutes of the NFL legend making his inaugural announcement, social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, had already called it “appalling.”
“Tom Brady hasn’t stuttered this much since he told Gisele he had one more year left,” one user posted, referring to the former quarterback’s decision to come out of retirement for one more NFL season, which came months before his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
“Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady say words before spending $300 million on him,” another posted scathingly, while another echoed the criticism, adding: “Tom Brady can’t seem to form sentences that have any sort of normal cadence.”
“Tom Brady just said it’s hard to get 10 yards, but really hard to get 20. That’s what you can get with a $375 million analysis,” one joked.
Others echoed the sentiment, suggesting that Brady’s analysis was boring; one user wrote: “Tom Brady must be very interesting to listen to, because his speaking voice is not very pleasant to listen to. And so far, it isn’t.”