Tom Brady announced that he will transition from his position as quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a brand new role. Brady has joined the ranks of FOX Sports, where he will serve as a lead analyst for an NFL game each week. He will be accompanied in the booth by Kevin Burkhardt.
FOX Corporation’s CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the news on an earnings call, adding that it was a long-term commitment. “It will be a stellar and exciting television career, but that’s up to him to make that choice when he sees fit,” he stated. The Burkhardt/Brady tandem is expected to replace Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, who jumped ship to join ESPN during the offseason as the network’s lead broadcast team.
Million-dollar deal
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that Brady has a ten-year deal worth $375 million with Fox. The greatest quarterback in NFL history, Brady has made $333 million over the course of his 23-year career, according to Spotrac. He has been willing to take less money than he’s worth to help the New England Patriots stay under the salary cap. Although Brady’s Fox Sports contract doesn’t begin until after his playing career is over, he could theoretically work as an analyst during the playoffs if the Bucs are eliminated.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion confirmed the news on Twitter, saying, “Excited, but a lot of unfinished business on the field with the @Buccaneers.” Brady’s decision to join Fox is not out of the ordinary. His predecessor, Drew Brees, made a similar move in 2018 when he joined NBC’s analysis team before officially retiring as quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.
Greatest of all time
Brady initially signaled his retirement from the NFL after Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, who went on to win the Super Bowl. Yet even in 2021, Brady continued to be one of the NFL’s most prolific passers, as statistics show. He finished with career-highs in passing yards (5,316) and touchdown passes (43). It was the first time that he surpassed 40 touchdown passes in back-to-back seasons and the third time in a single season that he threw 40 or more passes.
Brady has set several NFL records over his career and continues to impress many fans with his intense passion for the game. He leads the league in passing yards (84,520), completions (7,263), touchdown passes (624), and attempts (11,317). He is second behind one of his fiercest competitors Peyton Manning in fourth-quarter comebacks (42).