Tom Brady may have extensive experience in Super Bowls, yet Troy Aikman has insightful advice for him on how to approach his inaugural Super Bowl broadcast. In the latest episode of Jimmy Traina’s Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, Aikman shared what he would advise Brady as he prepares to call the game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Aikman noted that Brady reached out to him for guidance during his year off in preparation for his broadcasting debut, and he believes the best move for Brady is to use the gap week to get ready.
“For anyone who’s played in a Super Bowl, to say that ‘Well the Super Bowl is just like any other game,’ they’ve not played in it. Because it’s not,” Aikman told Traina. “As soon as you win the championship game, you know that Super Bowl is unlike any other game that you’ll play in. The same applies to broadcasting; the entire day feels different. When you first do your hit on the pregame or even right before you go on-air, the timing is very different, and the halftime is noticeably distinct. Eventually, like with players, things will settle in. You’re filled with adrenaline and emotion at the start, and you just try to let the game unfold and ease into your role.
Preparation is key, and Aikman emphasizes that it was essential for him as a player and holds the same importance as a broadcaster. “The more prepared I am, the better I feel about knowing both teams,” he remarked. Aikman pointed out the differences in broadcasting depending on the type of game, explaining that calling a preseason game varies greatly from a regular-season game, and postseason games require a different approach than a Super Bowl. For Brady, the challenge lies in how much preparation is truly feasible given his constraints. As a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, he faces restrictions that prevent him from participating in Fox production meetings with the teams involved.
However, there are still several ways for Brady to prepare, such as watching film or crafting jokes about the Giants. Despite these efforts, he will miss out on the deeper insights that come from direct interaction with the Chiefs and Eagles, which may impact his broadcasting experience.
