For years, the Dallas Cowboys capitalized on their 1990s dynasty to dominate NFL media. Now, as the New England Patriots take the mantle of football supremacy from Jerry Jones and Co., the Patriots are flooding the media landscape. It’s officially the Patriots era of NFL media.
While Fox game analyst Tom Brady and driven content creator Bill Belichick have understandably garnered the most attention as media newcomers, a closer look reveals an impressive roster of 11 analysts from Foxborough. Brady’s former targets, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, have teamed up for a podcast and regularly appear on Fox’s pregame coverage each Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Randy Moss and Tedy Bruschi make their rounds on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, and Rodney Harrison alongside Devin McCourty recap the NFL weekend on NBC’s Football Night In America. With journeyman linebacker Rob Ninkovich at ESPN, Jason McCourty at CBS, and Michael Lombardi on the digital side, fans have no escape from the red, white, and blue when consuming NFL content in 2025.
The takeover started during The Roast of Tom Brady on Netflix last May and has the potential to last over a decade, especially since Brady has committed to fulfilling his contract at Fox. Even Belichick and Lombardi will continue to appear on ESPN properties from Chapel Hill. Beyond the fact that these 11 former Patriots outnumber the eight Cowboys still in the media, this shift also signals a tone change. The Dallas dynasty was characterized by attitude and flair, from head coach Jimmy Johnson (now on Fox NFL Sunday) to quarterback Troy Aikman (now calling Monday Night Football), contrasting with the subdued demeanor of Belichick and Brady, whose emphasis was on hard work rather than charisma.
Unlike the flashy personalities of Irvin the “Playmaker” or Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, the Patriots in media focus on culture, mental discipline, and situational football. This approach may make football fans more knowledgeable but could also render them a bit bored. Nonetheless, Brady’s growth at Fox demonstrates that this perspective can greatly enhance fans’ understanding of the sport. For instance, Brady’s analysis of Jalen Hurts in the NFC Championship game highlighted the critical seconds leading up to a play’s execution. Brady’s insights into indecision provide fans a deeper understanding of pivotal moments before a playmaker takes charge.
Shifting the lens from Dallas to Boston, fans are poised to experience the game in a new light. However, the transformation extends beyond this. The Cowboys now rank third among NFL teams in media representation. Times have changed, no doubt.
A couple of AFC Championship games for New York, a dynamic young GM in Philadelphia, and a fiery punter from Indianapolis have reshaped the NFL media landscape. Awful Announcing tallied the media representation from every NFL studio show, podcast, broadcast booth, and radio show to determine which franchises dominate today.
Here are the top 12:
1. New England Patriots (11): Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty, Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rob Ninkovich, Bill Belichick, Michael Lombardi
2. New York Jets (9): Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, Mark Sanchez, Willie Colon, Keyshawn Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, Mike Tannenbaum, Eric Mangini, Damien Woody
With Ryan on ESPN, Sanchez calling games for Fox, and Johnson hosting a show at FS1, there’s a strong Jets presence in NFL media despite the team’s long-standing struggles.
3. Dallas Cowboys (8): Troy Aikman, Tony Romo, Marcus Spears, Jimmy Johnson, Jason Garrett, Daryl Johnston, Michael Irvin, Micah Parsons (active)
Though a few years ago, Jason Witten could have rounded out this list, Parsons now stands out with his notable podcast and Spears is making waves at ESPN.
4. Green Bay Packers (6): Aaron Rodgers, Desmond Howard, James Jones, Greg Jennings, A.J. Hawk, Bucky Brooks
Rodgers’ divisiveness creates a split among the longtime figures of the NFC North, with some maintaining close ties with the iconic QB, while others do not. Howard and Brooks are examples of journeymen who achieved a Super Bowl victory with Brett Favre.
https://embeds.beehiiv.com/a79076af-c414-47ef-96e6-0322628bcaaf" data-test-id="beehiiv-embed" width="480" height="320" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 2px solid #e5e7eb; margin: 0; background-color: transparent;
5. Indianapolis Colts (5): Pat McAfee, Darius Butler, Peyton Manning, Jeff Saturday, Tony Dungy
McAfee has propelled Indy into the limelight by broadcasting his show from the suburbs. However, Manning’s entry marked the Colts’ most prosperous era and created multiple media opportunities for teammates and coaches.
6. New York Giants (5): Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan, Chris Canty, Eli Manning, Shaun O’Hara
The influence of Super Bowl championships cannot be understated, as all five individuals played together during their late-2000s success, which they leveraged into prominent TV roles.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (4): Jason Kelce, Chris Long, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson
They serve as the closest counterpart to the Cowboys’ entertainment value in the 1990s, with these four being highly charismatic figures even behind their football helmets, translating well to television.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4): Jon Gruden, Chris Simms, Booger McFarland, Gerald McCoy
Again, we trace the media path from a Super Bowl victory. Gruden and McFarland were part of the 2002 team that won Super Bowl XXXVII, with connections back to Dungy and a year behind for Simms.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4): Cris Collinsworth, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, Andrew Hawkins
This may come as a surprise, as the NFL’s cheapest small-market team boasts an accomplished media roster, showcasing talents from both past glory days and vibrant personalities.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (4): Terry Bradshaw, Bill Cowher, Ryan Clark, Rod Woodson
It’s surprising to see just four Steelers in the media, especially since the franchise might have to wait for Mike Tomlin to transition into a TV role before adding new entrants to their lineup.
11. Seattle Seahawks (4): Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch, Michael Robinson, Robert Turbin
These four names are unexpected representatives from Seattle’s Legion of Boom era. However, with potential media reinforcements like Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll on the horizon, this could change soon.
12. Atlanta Falcons (4): Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Jay Feely, Louis Riddick
While Ryan shines on CBS, Riddick, Gonzalez, and Feely could fit in with various teams. The franchise recently saw Michael Vick depart Fox NFL Kickoff to coach at Norfolk State.
13. Carolina Panthers (4): Greg Olsen, Cam Newton, Steve Smith Jr., Luke Kuechly
A 2016 Super Bowl appearance propelled these talents into media prominence. Kuechly has recently emerged from retirement to make regular appearances, while Olsen calls games, Newton features on First Take, and Smith is consistently in the spotlight.
