Tom Brady began his multi-year, blockbuster contract with Fox Sunday but his broadcasting career debut did not receive rave reviews.
Fans’ year-long wait to hear the seven-time Super Bowl winner in the announcing debut finally came to an end Sunday as the former quarterback began his next chapter in the NFL.
The Cleveland Browns’ home season opener against the Dallas Cowboys marked the beginning of the 47-year-old’s 10-year, $375 million deal as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst.
However, it appeared his skills on the football field did not translate to the booth as many fans were quick to rip into Brady’s debut on the mic.
Within 20 minutes of the NFL legend’s announcing curtain raiser, social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, has already branded him ‘atrocious.’
‘Tom Brady ain’t stuttered this much since he told Gisele he got one more year in him,’ one user posted referring to the former signal caller’s decision to un-retire for one more season in the NFL, which came months before his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
‘Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady actually say words before dropping $300 million on him,’ another scathingly posted, while another echoed the criticism, adding, ‘Tom Brady can’t seem to form any sentences that have any sort of normal cadence to them.’
‘Tom Brady just said it’s hard to make 10, but really hard to make 20 yards. That’s what $375 million worth of analysis gets you folks,’ one quipped.
Others echoed the sentiment, suggesting Brady’s analysis was boring with one user writing: ‘Tom Brady needs to be hella interesting to listen to, because his speaking voice isn’t super pleasant to listen to And so far, he is not.’
Throughout his glittering career on the field, Brady was named MVP of the league three times and the MVP of the Super Bowl five times – the most of any player.
Brady’s also the greatest playoff quarterback in the sport – with the record for most games started, games won, passing touchdowns, passing yards (in both a playoffs and in a single game).
His greatest accolades – seven Super Bowl rings – are the most of any player in league history.
However, many fans claimed that his talent ended the instant he stepped off the field and onto the nation’s television screens.
‘I don’t want to overreact to week 1 but Tom Brady is the worst announcer in the NFL,’ one social media user said.
‘Tom Brady finally found something he’s terrible at #NFLonFox,’ another posted, while one added, ‘Fun day for Tony Romo. He’s finally better than Tom Brady at something.’
‘Tom Brady hasn’t looked this uncomfortable since facing the Giants in the Super Bowl,’ one of the many critics said, referring to Brady and the Patriots’ upset loss to the New York Giants in 2012.
Brady replaced Greg Olsen as Fox’s lead analyst with the former tight end demoted to the No. 2 crew.
But NFL fans were already left mourning Olsen’s absence from their prime time broadcasts as many slammed Fox for axing the former Carolina Panthers player in favor of Brady.
‘Damn greg olsen way better than tom brady in the booth,’ one claimed, while a second added, ‘I’ve heard enough of Tom Brady, justice for Greg Olsen.’
‘Tom Brady does not sound comfortable in the booth just yet,’ a more sympathetic fan posted. ‘Understandable in his first game, but maybe that’s why you don’t bump @gregolsen88 out of the top spot for him?’
‘I’ll say Tom Brady is absolutely dog s*** and Fox should be ashamed of what they did to Greg Olsen,’ a more irate user ranted.
Brady’s move to the broadcast booth has been a longtime in the making. After officially retiring from the NFL in 2023 for a second – and final time – the former quarterback took a year off before beginning his television duties.
Yet, it appears, according to NFL fans at least, that the wait has been anti-climactic. Brady will be hoping he can brush off the initial nerves and criticism with the biggest game of all – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans – awaiting him at the end of the season.
