By this point, I’ve flip-flopped so much on Tom Brady that even John Kerry thinks I should have some shame. Back in October, I took the seven-time Super Bowl champion first overall in an NFL announcers draft for our weekly sports media news podcast, The Play-By-Play, a decision that left my co-hosts as stunned as Bill Simmons was witnessing the Cleveland Cavaliers draft Anthony Bennett in 2013. At the time, my argument was that given his unprecedented star power, the selection was a no-brainer — provided Brady could turn himself into merely a passable broadcaster. Much like the Cavs with Bennett, it didn’t take me long to regret my pick.
Nearly a month later, I publicly expressed remorse regarding my pro-Brady stance, proclaiming him not a fit for the broadcast booth following a particularly disappointing showing on Thanksgiving Day. Hearing the 47-year-old call a Cowboys-Giants showdown quarterbacked by Cooper Rush and Drew Lock, it dawned on me that his star power wasn’t an asset, but rather a detriment to his broadcasting career, as it was seemingly difficult for him to view anything through a prism other than being the greatest quarterback to have ever played. But with Super Bowl LIX now less than two weeks away, I’m getting back on the bandwagon.
While I believed both my draft analysis and post-Thanksgiving critique in real-time, the past few weeks — in my mind — have proven my intuition to be correct. With the spotlight only getting brighter with the arrival of the NFL Playoffs, Brady’s been at his best, with many — including The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand — believing that his call of the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Washington Commanders in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game was the best of his young broadcasting career.
Brady is having his best game.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 26, 2025
Marchand’s praise was far from unique, although it admittedly came before Brady unironically called for the refs to be less involved in affecting the on-field product. Still, even if he’s lacking in self-awareness at times, it’d be impossible not to notice that the 3-time NFL MVP has improved as a broadcaster — particularly when it comes to the aspect of his analysis everybody is most interested in: how he evaluates quarterbacks. One week after providing the soundtrack to Jayden Daniels’ breakout performance in the Commanders’ upset victory over the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round on Fox, Brady was tasked with broadcasting one of the league’s most polarizing quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts. But rather than rip the Eagles quarterback for not being as poised as he was in the pocket — as if just anyone can do that — the 5-time Super Bowl MVP offered constructive criticism in situations such as Hurts bypassing an opportunity to let A.J. Brown try to make a play in the end zone.
“It looked like one-on-one [coverage], he knew what he wanted — I would cut that thing loose to the back pylon,” Brady said while reacting to a replay of Brown being single-covered. “Just let it go, right there. When you hold the ball for a long period of time, it just doesn’t get much better. Your guys are open early. That’s one area of his game that I want to see consistent improvement on.”
Listening to Tom Brady evaluate Jalen Hurts is incredible.
“Cut that thing loose.” pic.twitter.com/c1om9aTpxh
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) January 26, 2025
Brady’s in-game analysis on Sunday stood in stark contrast to his criticism of Rush and Lock on Thanksgiving, where he seemingly admonished the former backup quarterbacks (and Daniel Jones) for merely not being Tom Brady. While the Michigan product’s in-game analysis has undoubtedly improved, the postseason stage has also afforded him the opportunity to truly showcase the traits that very few — if any — can match. Brady’s 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox might mean that he’s expected to be at the top of his game for 18 weeks during the regular season and four-to-three weeks in the playoffs, but the reality is that — much like his playing career — it’s the postseason that he’s going to truly be judged on.
Three playoff games into his broadcasting career, Brady has done that and more, expertly providing his perspective as the most accomplished quarterback in NFL history. After a lackluster opener between the Eagles and the Packers in the Wild Card round, Brady’s presence was a welcome addition to the Commanders’ upset victory over the Lions, where he spoke to Daniels’ emergence, as well as the letdown Detroit was experiencing in the upset. Come the NFC Championship Game, Brady wasn’t only willing to joke about losing to the Eagles and Nick Foles in Super Bowl LII, but also shared what it was like for Hurts to be leading Philadelphia to The Big Game for the second time in the last three years.
“It’s a championship. I know the final goal isn’t established yet, but to win this game, you remember these for the rest of your life,” Brady said as the final minutes of the blowout ticked off the clock. “It means more than just going to the Super Bowl. You have two weeks leading up to this game. You understand that there are so many experiences that happen within these two weeks. You get to be part of so many things in the Super Bowl that you’ve watched. The Super Bowl media night, that’s such a thrill for every player. You get to go through an hour-long meeting with your coach about Super Bowl logistics. You’ve got every aunt and uncle being talked about in your family. Every friend of yours is fired up that you’re a part of this incredible sporting event. Everyone gets to enjoy it — as they should. They’ve all earned it.”
Tom Brady on what it means to make the Super Bowl and the thrill it is for the players and organization over the next two weeks. 🏈🦅 🎙️ #NFL pic.twitter.com/VZz4G4LfpK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 26, 2025
Brady obviously isn’t the only former player-turned-broadcaster who can speak to what it’s like to play in a Super Bowl, but considering both his resume and the fact he’s only two years removed from his own playing career, it admittedly carries more weight than any of his counterparts could possibly provide. As Patrick Mahomes begins to make his own case for being considered the “GOAT” with the Chiefs marching toward an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat, it’s crazy to think that there’s exactly one person in the world who knows what he’s currently experiencing — and he’ll just so happen to be on the call of the game. Whether the Chiefs win or lose in New Orleans, it seems clear that Fox will be getting its money’s worth out of Brady these next two weeks. From that perspective, all that’s left to see is whether his call lives up to the hype, as the stage is certainly set for a memorable sendoff to a debut season unlike any other in football broadcasting history.
