Resentment isn’t quite the word for Greg Olsen, but it captures some of his feelings. He has resonated with Awful Announcing’s readers, who ranked him as part of the No. 1 announcing crew in the sport, yet he remains noticeably absent from the biggest games. This is intentional, as Olsen was demoted in favor of Tom Brady and his lucrative 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox. While Brady’s presence is assured, Olsen feels the urge to call the most significant matchups.
Having been praised repeatedly for his insightfulness while working with Fox’s No. 2 team, Olsen understands that his success doesn’t hinge on Brady. However, as he sits back and tweets alongside everyone else, he can’t shake the feeling that something is lacking. He has expressed a clear desire to call top games, a sentiment he reiterated in a recent Q&A with The Athletic’s Joseph Person, stating he doesn’t want to watch passively in the coming years.
“I don’t think resentment’s probably accurate. But I also think it’s not too far off if I’m being honest,” Olsen shared when asked about any resentment toward Brady or his employer. He clarified, “I don’t have any ill will — there’s no personal resentment towards Tom or, obviously, K.B. (Kevin Burkhardt) and Erin (Andrews). I still talk to all of them fairly regularly. I’m hoping to see them next week down in New Orleans for dinner or a drink and just catch up.” Nevertheless, he finds it challenging to watch games he previously analyzed and called, noting that while sitting on his couch, he mentally broadcasts the game, thinking about what he would have said in various situations.
As he watched Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, he felt the itch to analyze pivotal moments, such as a coaching decision made by Dan Quinn.
One of the few times I don’t agree with Dan Quinn’s approach
This early in the game, just accumulate as many points as you can. Opponent points aren’t a major factor. Tying the game doesn’t matter at this stage.
We’ll see how it plays out
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) January 26, 2025
Lesson to be learned here by DQ
GREAT JOB using his timeouts in the previous 2 defensive drives. Extend the game as long as you can to buy an extra possession
We hear all the time, “save a TO for the kick”
No, save time for a good QB!
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) January 26, 2025
Olsen’s eagerness to call top games is undeniable. Watching games unfold from the sidelines fuels a longing within him, as he grapples with an internal struggle where he mentally broadcasts the game from the couch, contemplating what insights he could offer. “You’re kinda driving yourself crazy with all these what-if scenarios as you’re watching the game,” Olsen admits. “It’s very hard now to watch the games and just sit back and enjoy.”
Two years prior, he called Super Bowl LVII, but as a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles approaches, it’s Brady who will take the microphone. While Olsen may not label his feelings as resentment, the sentiment is clear. “My goal is to call top games,” he expresses to Person. “I’ve been very adamant about that over the last couple of years. I’m continuing to work toward that goal and hopefully have the opportunity to get back to calling these marquee games at some point.”
