In his first year as an NFL broadcaster, Tom Brady is already set up well for the future. The former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback will broadcast the Super Bowl for Fox, joining an elite club in two weeks.
While Brady was hired to essentially replace Troy Aikman on the top broadcasting team, there was a gap that the network had to fill in between. Aikman left Fox for ESPN in 2022, while Brady didn’t join the network until 2024.
Who did Tom Brady replace at Fox?
Brady replaced former Bears and Panthers tight end Greg Olsen as the No. 1 color commentator on Fox.
Olsen has been at Fox since he retired from the NFL in 2021, quickly rising the ranks to take over for Aikman on Fox’s top broadcasting team in 2022.
Olsen is just 39 years old and has a bright future ahead of him in broadcasting even if it’s not with Fox. It is likely that Olsen can join another network with a clearer path to the No. 1 team once his contract with Fox is up.
Why did Tom Brady replace Greg Olsen?
In 2022, Aikman left Fox for ESPN after over two decades on the top broadcasting team. Before Brady’s final season that year, the then-Buccaneers quarterback signed a 10-year, $375 million deal to eventually replace Aikman.
However, since Brady was still playing in the NFL, Fox promoted Olsen to the top team. While Olsen excelled working with Kevin Burkhardt, Fox was already committed to Brady on the No. 1 broadcasting crew when he joined the network.
With Brady pairing with Burkhardt in 2024, Olsen was demoted to the No. 2 team with play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis. As Brady has dealt with growing pains in his first season, Olsen is already established as one of the better broadcasters in the league.
How long is Tom Brady’s contract?
Brady agreed to a 10-year, $375 million to join Fox’s NFL coverage, a deal that started this season. It is the biggest contract given to any football announcer.
