Tom Brady Makes FOX Broadcast Debut During UFL Championship Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Tom Brady has officially returned to football… but in a new role.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback is now a rookie analyst, having officially made his debut in the FOX broadcast booth during Sunday’s United Football League championship game.
Brady, who will become the network’s lead NFL analyst when the season begins in September, joined the broadcast during the second quarter of a scoreless game between the Birmingham Stallions and San Antonio Brahmas in St. Louis.
“He brings some instant offense, you know him, you love him, Tom Brady…” play-by-play announcer Curt Menefee said as he welcomed Brady to the booth.
“I can’t go down to the field anymore, what are you talking about?” Brady said, dressed in a suit and headphones.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, who was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame on Wednesday, offered some advice to struggling offenses competing in the game during his first segment.
“Someone has to get the ball up the field and try to open it up a little bit,” he said. “It’s a lot of horizontal passes, and defenses are crowding and trying to hit the ball. So, defend every sheet of glass, that’s what we used to say.”
Brady, 46, reportedly agreed to a 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX in 2022 before opting to return for one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will partner with play-by-play commentator Kevin Burkhardt, replacing former tight end and lead analyst Greg Olsen.
Brady will make his NFL regular-season television debut on September 8 when the Cleveland Browns host the Dallas Cowboys.
He took his first warmup on Sunday while joining Menefee and analyst Joel Klatt during the UFL matchup. Brady later appeared on stage after the Stallions’ 25-0 victory to present the MVP award to quarterback Adrián Martínez.
Brady spoke about his second career during an upcoming interview on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”
“I learned a lot of things playing football that will hopefully allow me to convey really unique things to listeners each week, but at the same time, there will be a lot of growth that I will also have over a period of time,” Brady said. “So, coming out of the box, I want to do well, but I also know that I’m not a finished product, that I’m going to make a lot of mistakes, but I’m going to learn as I go.”