Insider predicts Tom Brady may walk away from $375M Fox deal amid criticism of his broadcasting career
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tom Brady may leave the FOX Sports announcing booth after just one season amid criticism of his broadcasting career.
The NFL legend, who has a lucrative 10-year, $375 million contract with the network, might shift his focus to his minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Andrew Marchand predicts Tom Brady will leave FOX deal
According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Tom Brady may exit his FOX broadcasting deal before the 2025 NFL season. He joined the network ahead of the 2024 season and is contracted through 2033.
Marchand boldly claimed that Brady will not complete the full 10 years of his FOX broadcasting deal. While he originally suggested Brady might commentate for three or four years, he now predicts that Brady will step away from his announcing role after the 2025 offseason due to his other business ventures.
On the other hand, NFL reporter Richard Deitsch stated he wouldn't be surprised if Brady walked away from his deal before the start of the 2025 NFL season.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Brady's got too many irons in the fire," Deitsch remarked. "With his focus shifting to NFL ownership and his production company, don't be surprised if he goes all-in off the field."
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Peter Schrager have previously noted that Brady is likely to have a say in the Raiders' coaching decision, with his former teammate and close friend Mike Vrabel seen as a potential option, Marca reported.
Tom Brady's broadcasting style draws criticism
While Tom Brady's football knowledge is unquestioned, his broadcasting style has drawn criticism.
Three weeks after he transitioned to the broadcasting booth in September 2024, ESPN’s Don Van Natta highlighted a key flaw: "Tom Brady's problem, and ours, is his voice. No matter how much his commentary might improve, Brady's delivery system teeters between mildly annoying to nails-on-a-chalkboard." This has led some viewers to feel disconnected from his insights despite his expertise.
Brady started his broadcasting career after replacing Greg Olsen as FOX’s top color commentator. His coverage of three consecutive Dallas Cowboys games received mixed reviews, with some noting nervousness and awkward pauses in his debut.
Recently, Tom Brady also had an awkward moment at the start of Fox's broadcast of the Minnesota Vikings' match with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Tom Brady can't remember that the third team the Packers lost to this year was the Vikings...who they're currently on the field playing 😬pic.twitter.com/gd1a4zj4lP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
As Brady stepped into the broadcast booth alongside Kevin Burkhardt, Brady tried to recount the Packers' four losses this season. "Two of them to the Lions, they're a good team. The Eagles, they lost to them, they're a good team. And they lost to the, uh...who'd they lose to the other one? Anyway..." he said. Brady completely failed to recall the Green Bay Packers' earlier loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Tom Brady's dual role sparks controversy as he eyes greater influence in Raiders' future
In October, the Las Vegas Raiders revealed that Tom Brady and his business partner Tom Wagner had acquired a 10% ownership stake in the team, with Brady personally holding 5% of the minority stake.
Brady's ownership of an NFL team sparked controversy due to his active FOX contract. Reports indicated that he faces restrictions, including not being allowed in another team's facility, attending practices, or participating in broadcast production meetings.
Given the complications of his dual role, Marchand believes Brady could exit his FOX broadcasting deal in the coming months.
Earlier this week, reports suggested that Brady was expected to play a key role in helping the Las Vegas Raiders with their picks in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Raiders (4-12), at the bottom of the AFC West, are in need of a rebuild. Currently, they hold the No 8 pick in the upcoming draft, though this could change based on the results of the final regular-season games.
Reports indicate that the Raiders are eyeing a star quarterback to lead their franchise in the upcoming draft. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl-winning QB, is expected to have a "huge voice" in the decision.
