In sports broadcasting, a recurring challenge for networks is sidestepping the profane language that penetrates the sports world. While they often manage this with subtle hints, it’s particularly amusing when it involves not only player language but even regular segments from analysts.
Such is the case with Fox analyst Tom Brady’s “LFG Player of the Game” segment, where recipient Jayden Daniels humorously asked him to spell out the acronym during an interview after his team’s win against the Detroit Lions:
“I want to ask you what LFG stands for?” – @JayD__5
“It’s inappropriate. It’s a family-friendly program.” – @TomBrady 😂Congrats to @Commanders QB Jayden Daniels for being named the #LFG Player of the Game 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/dbPfjHsIQ0
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 19, 2025
Daniels and the audience are well aware that “LFG” translates as “Let’s f****** go.” This phrase has become a sports rallying cry, particularly linked with the U.S. women’s national soccer team, even featuring as the title of a documentary addressing their fight for equal pay. It’s been embraced by various sports figures, including Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, notably critiqued by Keith Hernandez, the San Diego Padres’ Jorge Alfaro, and Nigerian soccer player Asisat Oshoala.
Brady himself has embraced this phrase for years, referencing it frequently, including in his now-defunct SiriusXM podcast titled Let’s Go. He incorporated it weekly for the “LFG Player of the Game” on Fox, showing that the network embraces the quirkiness of the feature. Furthermore, the Las Vegas Raiders’ announcement about Brady’s ownership stake included the #LFG hashtag:
Welcome to the Silver & Black, @TomBrady #LFG pic.twitter.com/XzjB85Ngo8
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 16, 2024
It’s quite entertaining to see Daniels call out Brady’s euphemistic approach and to watch Brady navigate his response with humor. He wisely avoided using the actual expletive; while sports broadcasts often include f-bombs, especially on networks like Fox, they typically incite more backlash when coming from broadcasters rather than players or coaches. This highlights the absurdity of having a regularly featured segment—backed by Verizon—that can’t explicitly state its title, reflecting the complex landscape of cursing in sports. It’s an integral part of the culture that networks are still attempting to handle delicately.
