Tom Brady was on the phone from Miami, offering a candid look into what it really felt like to go behind the scenes during his intimidating first year as an NFL television analyst.

When he reviewed his own broadcasts after games, Brady often caught himself cringing.

“Why did I say that?”

“I didn’t like that.”

“That didn’t even make sense.”

Those moments of self-criticism were constant. Even for someone widely regarded as the greatest NFL player of all time, stepping into the broadcast booth meant learning an entirely new profession. Every Sunday afternoon, roughly 25 million viewers were listening to every word he said. Brady described the experience as riding a bike with training wheels — cautiously trying to stay upright, gradually improving, but never quite finding a smooth rhythm.

“The training wheels eventually come off, and then you have to ride slowly,” Brady told The Athletic.

His rookie season wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t exceptional either. There were flashes of insight, but not enough consistency. Brady prepared obsessively, filling pages with notes, but that preparation ended up muting his natural instincts. He later realized the problem was information overload.

“I used to joke that if I read everything I prepared straight through during a three-hour broadcast, I still wouldn’t get through it all,” Brady said.

That season concluded with Fox producing a highly successful Super Bowl broadcast, drawing a record-breaking 127.7 million viewers as the Eagles defeated the Chiefs. Brady, however, felt like more of a passenger than a leader. He leaned heavily on the experienced professionals around him rather than steering the broadcast himself.

Everything changed in his second year.

Brady made a conscious adjustment, cutting back on outside input and massive note-taking. Instead, he began preparing the way he always had as a quarterback, studying teams as if he were heading into a meeting with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“This year I started thinking, ‘Let me do this the way I did as a quarterback,’ because that’s where I’m most comfortable,” Brady explained. “Not trying to prepare like a traditional broadcaster.”

As his second season came to a close, that shift paid off. Brady emerged as one of the top analysts in the industry, now routinely mentioned among the best in the business. Fox wrapped up its season with the NFC Championship Game in Seattle, and Brady was clearly in command.

This version of Brady was exactly what Fox Sports executives Eric Shanks and Brad Zager had envisioned when they pursued him during the chaotic NFL broadcasting offseason of 2022.

That year reshaped sports media. Tony Romo signed a massive 10-year, $180 million deal with CBS. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left Fox for ESPN on contracts totaling $165 million. Fox already had Greg Olsen developing into a premier analyst, but the network still took a bold swing for Brady.

In March 2022, Shanks and Zager quietly met Brady and his representative, Stephen Dubin, at a hotel in Bel-Air. Brady had never expressed serious interest in broadcasting, but Fox pitched him on the opportunity to explain the game he loved to the largest audiences in sports.

The eventual 10-year, $375 million contract became the most lucrative deal ever for a sports media personality. Still, at that initial meeting, Fox executives weren’t even sure Brady truly wanted the job.

“To do this job well, you have to want to talk — and want to talk about football,” Zager told him.

After winning seven Super Bowls, few things excite Brady more than discussing football. By the end of his second season, that passion was obvious.

“In Year 1, you saw Tom Brady the Hall of Fame quarterback learning how to broadcast,” Zager said. “Now you’re seeing Tom Brady the broadcaster.”

Brady’s evolution mirrors the teamwork principles that defined his Patriots dynasty. This time, his broadcast team — play-by-play partner Kevin Burkhardt, producer Richie Zyontz, director Rich Russo, and the Fox crew — became his new locker room.

“It’s not kind of like a team. It is a team,” Brady said. “It’s like an orchestra. The producer is the conductor, and everyone has a role. If one person is out of sync, the broadcast feels it.”

During his first year, Brady relied on others to carry the broadcast. In year two, that dynamic flipped.

“Tom’s the quarterback now,” Burkhardt said. “We’re just trying to get open on third down for him.”

One reason networks chase a figure like Brady is spectacle. The NFL remains the most valuable and most-watched entertainment property in the United States, and possibly the world. In 2025, more than 80 percent of the highest-rated television broadcasts were NFL games, with the Super Bowl leading the way.

Even in that context, Brady in the booth is unprecedented. His fame and salary set him apart from previous analyst stars like Aikman or Romo. When Brady walks into a stadium, the attention is on a completely different scale.

“It’s unreal,” Burkhardt said. “You’re walking around with one of the most recognizable people on the planet. It’s like traveling with the Beatles.”

During a preseason game in August 2024 between the Rams and Cowboys, Dallas stars Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs stopped their warmups just to take photos with Brady.

“That doesn’t usually happen,” Burkhardt joked.

Security escorts Brady even for routine halftime trips. He is gracious with fans asking for photos or autographs, but without assistance, he would never make it back to the booth in time.

Before becoming partners, Burkhardt and Brady barely knew each other. Brady once wished him well after Burkhardt joined Fox and called a Patriots game, and that was the extent of their interaction.

After retiring and signing with Fox, Brady took a year off during the 2022–23 season. In November 2023, he finally reported for training at Fox’s Los Angeles studios. Executives walked him through the business side before Burkhardt arrived later that afternoon, feeling more like a blind date than a work meeting.

Brady put on a broadcast headset next to Burkhardt that day, and the partnership clicked immediately.

Burkhardt’s unselfish style made him an ideal match. He gives analysts space, allowing Brady time to explain plays without interruption. Over time, the two built a genuine friendship, even golfing together in the offseason.

Burkhardt once told Brady that the best broadcasts feel like fans are simply sitting on the couch with them. This season, that feeling came through clearly.

Brady speaks about Burkhardt with deep respect, calling him a lifelong brother and praising both his talent and character. Their chemistry shows in subtle ways — shared glances, inside jokes, and frequent expressions of awe after big plays.

During Brady’s rookie year, he even moved the telestrator between them to keep the conversation flowing naturally rather than turning away to draw diagrams.

Brady’s future was never limited to broadcasting. He holds a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders and is involved in organizational decisions, including coaching searches. He balances those responsibilities with his Fox role, staying immersed in the sport he loves.

As Fox prepared for its final broadcast of the season, with the Rams facing the Seahawks for a Super Bowl berth, Brady approached the game like a player once again. He streamlined his preparation, studied matchups deeply, and led a detailed Saturday night meeting with the entire crew.

“I don’t believe in generic analysis,” Brady said. “Every game has nuance. Every matchup tells a story.”

After film sessions, the crew shared one final team dinner, a bittersweet moment marking the end of the season.

“There’s always a little sadness knowing it’s the last game,” Brady admitted.

When the broadcast begins, there will be no question who is leading.

“This is the analyst’s show,” Burkhardt said.

For Brady, the game itself remains the magic. Even now, he believes there is room to improve.

“I probably still have too much information,” he said. “Next year, I’ll simplify it even more.”

From overwhelming preparation to refined instincts, Brady’s second act in broadcasting is just getting started.