Tom Brady is set to begin his role as an NFL analyst for FOX Sports, but the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback has already been written off by some in the broadcasting world
Tom Brady’s upcoming venture into the world of sports broadcasting has already attracted scepticism, with renowned radio host Mike Francesa delivering a scathing prediction about the NFL icon’s new career path.
Despite not having started his role as an NFL analyst for FOX yet, Brady, who inked a staggering 10-year, $375 million (£300m) deal with the network in 2022, is facing early criticism. The 46-year-old former quarterback, famed for his seven Super Bowl victories, is set to replace Greg Olsen and team up with Kevin Burkhardt in the commentary booth.
Brady has been diligently preparing for his on-air debut, making several trips to the FOX studios to build rapport with Burkhardt. Additionally, Brady has been showcasing his expertise on various platforms, offering insights into quarterback play that have impressed many.
However, these efforts haven’t managed to win over Mike Francesa, the ex-CBS studio analyst and sports radio legend. On “The Mike Francesa Podcast”, the New Yorker bluntly stated his views on Brady’s transition to analysis.
“I don’t think his heart’s in it,” Francesa opined. “I don’t think his personality is such. I don’t think he’s going to be great at it. I really don’t.
“I think there’s a unique quality that you have to bring that allows you as an analyst to see the game, see the game quickly, plus bring personality into it. It’s a tricky job for the analyst in football because you’re going to spend a lot of time over replay.
“You’re going to spend a lot of time breaking down what happens on replay. And you also have to be very personable and glib in how you do it. I don’t see him there.”
Francesa raised concerns around Brady’s recent minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders, which has not yet been officially approved, stating: “He is the first NFL player in modern times…to be able to do this. So, I think that will impact him as a broadcaster.
“.I don’t think he’s gonna be great at it. I really don’t. I don’t think he has that personality, I just don’t see it happening.”
Francesa pointed out his belief that Brady isn’t cut from the same cloth as Peyton Manning, “There’s certain guys who are good,” he conceded. “Now, Peyton Manning would’ve been really good as an analyst.
“But he’s better just being Peyton because he is, in his own right, a TV personality. He’s great in TV, he’s great in commercials, he’s good at everything he does. I think he’d be fine as an analyst, but he’s just better being himself.”
Surprisingly, Francesa wasn’t always sure that Troy Aikman had what it took to make it in broadcasting, but his two-decade-long careeracross multiple networks proved him wrong. “I didn’t think early on Aikman had the personality to be a terrific analyst,” admitted Francesa, “but he’s come at it almost in a different way, but it’s worked really well.”
Just as he did during his stellar playing career, Brady now has to prove the sceptics wrong once more.