Tom Brady began his multi-year, successful contract with Fox Sunday, but his debut as a TV host did not receive many rave reviews.
Fans have waited a year to hear the seven-time Super Bowl winner make his debut, but Sunday finally brought an end to the announcement of the former quarterback beginning his new chapter in the NFL.
The Cleveland Browns’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys marked the beginning of the 47-year-old’s 10-year, $375 million deal as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst.
However, it seemed his qualities on the football field were not reflected in the studio, as many fans were quick to criticize Brady’s debut behind the microphone.
Within 20 minutes of the NFL legend announcing his opening act, social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, were already calling him “terrible.”
Tom Brady was criticized by NFL fans on social media for his debut as a host on Fox
The former quarterback began his 10-year, $375 million contract as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst
“Tom Brady hasn’t stuttered this much since he told Gisele he had one more year,” one user wrote, referencing the former quarterback’s decision to come out of retirement and play one more season in the NFL, just months before his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
“Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady before spending $300 million on him,” another scathingly wrote, while another echoed the criticism, adding, “Tom Brady can’t seem to form a single sentence that has any kind of normal rhythm.”
“Tom Brady just said it’s hard to get 10 yards, but really hard to get 20. That’s what $375 million in analytics gets you,” someone joked.
Others agreed, finding Brady’s analysis boring. For example, one user wrote, “Tom Brady must be really interesting to listen to because his voice is not exactly pleasant to listen to. And so far, it isn’t.”
During his illustrious career on the field, Brady was named league MVP three times and Super Bowl MVP five times, the most of any player.
Brady is also the best playoff quarterback in the sport, holding the record for most games started, wins, touchdowns passed, and yards passed (both in the playoffs and in a single game).
His greatest accolades — seven Super Bowl rings — are the most of any player in league history.
However, many fans claimed that his talent stopped once he stepped off the field and onto national television screens.
Within 20 minutes of the NFL legend announcing his opening act, fans were calling him ‘terrible’
“I don’t want to overreact to Week 1, but Tom Brady is the worst commentator in the NFL,” one social media user said.
“Tom Brady finally found something he’s terrible at #NFLonFox,” another posted, while another added, “Nice day for Tony Romo. He’s finally better at something than Tom Brady.”
“Tom Brady hasn’t looked this uncomfortable since he played the Giants in the Super Bowl,” said one critic, referring to Brady and the Patriots’ surprise loss to the New York Giants in 2012.
Brady replaced Greg Olsen as Fox’s lead analyst, with the former tight end being demoted to the second position.
However, NFL fans were already in mourning over Olsen’s absence from their primetime broadcasts, as many criticized Fox for firing the former Carolina Panthers player in favor of Brady.
“Damn Greg Olsen is way better than Tom Brady in the booth,” one person claimed, while a second added: “I’ve heard enough about Tom Brady, justice for Greg Olsen.”
Many fans claimed that Brady’s talent stopped the moment he left the field and appeared on TV
Brady replaced Greg Olsen as Fox’s lead analyst, demoting the former tight end to the crew’s No. 2 spot
“Tom Brady doesn’t seem comfortable in the booth yet,” posted a more sympathetic fan. “Understandable in his first game, but maybe that’s why you’re not bumping @gregolsen88 from the top spot?”
“I’m saying Tom Brady is a huge asshole and Fox should be ashamed of themselves for what they did to Greg Olsen,” fumed one angrier user.
Brady’s move to the broadcast booth has been a long time coming. After officially retiring from the NFL for a second — and final — time in 2023, the former quarterback took a year off before taking on his television duties.
Still, it appears, according to NFL fans at least, that the wait has been an anticlimax. Brady is hoping to shake off the initial nerves and criticism with the biggest game of them all — Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans — awaiting him at the end of the season.