A prominent NFL insider has fans buzzing after suggesting that Tom Brady might not be in the broadcast booth for the long haul.
Tom Brady is in the first season of a 10-year, $375 million contract he signed with FOX Sports in 2022. Brady was also approved as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, but as fans know, the seven-time Super Bowl champion must follow several restrictions as a broadcaster and NFL owner.
Brady’s performance as an NFL analyst has led to mixed reviews. Certainly, he hasn’t been as well-received as the likes of other color commentators like FOX’s Greg Olsen or CBS’ Tony Romo (at least when he started out).
During an appearance on John Ourand’s “The Varsity” podcast, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio explained that Tom Brady might not have the passion to continue broadcasting, citing the limitations he has as a minority Raiders owner:
“There’s an interesting theory that’s making the rounds in league circles, because there had been teams that have said to the league, ‘We want Tom Brady to be involved in the production meetings.’ And through that push and pull because the league says no, no, no, no, no exceptions even if you waive it. It doesn’t matter.
There’s been a sense that maybe Brady doesn’t really want to do it anyway. Because you think of how thinly he’s spread, all of the different things that he’s doing, it may not be that he wants to be the absolute best at everything he does. It may just be that he wants us to think he’s the absolute best at everything that he does, and he’s doing a lot of different things and he’s making a lot of different appearances and he’s making a lot of money…
Him being an owner and him being a broadcaster I think it keeps him from being the absolute best he could ever be. And it just always seemed beneath him — he’s Tom Brady… I just wonder how many years he’ll continue to do it.”
2007 Tom Brady was LEGENDARY!
These numbers after just 10 games 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tT4wKEt6x3
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) November 15, 2024
NFL analysts meet with the coaches and players to prepare for their weekly on-air work. But since Brady is part-owner of the Raiders, he’s barred from entering other teams’ facilities.
And while other analysts like Romo and Troy Aikman have field days ripping on officiating, Brady isn’t allowed to do so. Obviously, that takes away a big part of his ability to entertain the audience.
Tom Brady Should Stick With Broadcasting For Now
The three-time league MVP has been far from great in his first season as an NFL analyst, but like all things in life, it takes time and experience. Brady can only get better as he gets more comfortable in the broadcast booth.
He can still break down and analyze games better than almost anybody else, being the most accomplished player in NFL history and all. Even if he”s not enjoying his first year in the booth deep down, he should stick with it for at least a couple more years before deciding on his future.
