Fans gave their thoughts on Tom Brady as the NFL legend began his new role on FOX Sports after signing a 10-year contract.
The NFL veteran, who was selected as the Super Bowl MVP on five occasions during his stellar playing career, is now FOX’s primary NFL color commentator after signing a 10-year deal worth a record $375 million in 2022.
He is said to be earning double what fellow experts Tony Romo and Troy Aikman are earning, but they work for CBS Sports and ESPN respectively.
Fans had to wait patiently for Brady to make his debut appearance in his new job, with the 47-year-old deciding to take a year away from the sport after retiring as a player in 2023.
His maiden match in the hotseat was Cleveland Browns’ opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
In what was the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s first experience of live broadcasting, the New England Patriots star received mixed reactions after fans saw his maiden calls as color commentator.
One wrote: “He is literally watching the game as a fan, that’s why he is taking long to talk. He is enjoying the game and forgets he is a pundit.”
Another said: “It’s his first game – it’s live TV which is hard to get used to. He’ll loosen up during the course of the season.”
The first moments of @TomBrady's broadcasting debut 👏 (via @NFLonFOX)
📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/yeEfYMwJw8— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
A fourth wrote: “He got better as the game went progressed. It’s not coming natural to him yet, but he will be great.”
And a fifth argued: “Brady will grow into it. I genuinely enjoy his unobtrusive manner.”
Speaking ahead of his debut on Sunday, Brady said: “Obviously incredibly delighted. There’s a little nervousness, certainly.
“There’s been a lot of preparation that’s gone into it by a lot of individuals. And it’s been a couple year journey.
“The thing that’s most thrilling for me is going back to NFL football, being up here in the booth.
“We’ve got a terrific group, there’s so many talented people that I get to work with. I get to be part of a terrific team, and I get to cover a sport that I passionately enjoy.”
