Why Talking Head Tom Brady Never Stood a Chance

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It’s quite possible that Tom Brady didn’t experience many poor years throughout his life, but it seems reasonable to suppose that the year 2024 might not have been among his top performing ones.

Following a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox Sports for his role as the primary analyst on NFL telecasts, Brady, who now earns more annually to commentate than he ever did playing, debuted on television to mixed reactions. His rough delivery, habitual shouting reminiscent of a huddle, overuse of the word “good” as his most colorful descriptor (to the point it seemed like a mantra or perhaps a secret phrase), bland, superficial commentary about the field action, inconsistent vocal rhythm, and all these factors left NFL fans and media critics bewildered from the moment he spoke. With Brady set to call his first Super Bowl on Feb. 9, prepare for a wave of Brady criticism, a preoccupation among die-hard NFL followers throughout the year, to go mainstream: You might soon hear your grandmother asking, “What on earth is he talking about?” It’s been a full year of intense Brady backlash.

For Brady, this experience must be quite different now. As a future Hall of Famer, he was no stranger to critics during his playing years – from controversies like Deflategate to the incident with a Make America Great Again hat in his locker – yet he was largely shielded due to his exceptional talent, being hailed as the greatest of all time (GOAT). However, after retiring and entering the media world, he’s just another suited individual like the rest of us: The number of touchdowns thrown doesn’t matter if you tend to lose your way in sentences during live national broadcasts. It seems that the accumulated resentment toward Brady over the years has finally found an outlet.

It’s important to mention that while Brady isn’t the worst broadcaster out there, his performance might reflect more on the current state of the profession than it does about his abilities. As a novice in this field, one would expect him to have gained experience by commentating on lesser-known events first. However, you don’t send Tom Brady to cover an insignificant game. Fox Sports’ significant investment in him necessitated promoting him as a star, which ultimately put him under pressure: He needed to be exceptional right away, and he didn’t quite manage it.

Essentially, what was being conveyed is that Tom Brady, despite his exceptional skills as a quarterback and Super Bowl winner, struggled in his role as a broadcaster. This isn’t because he’s a poor broadcaster by nature, but rather because the abilities required for football success (like winning seven Super Bowals) and broadcasting (such as extemporaneous talking for long periods) are unrelated. The comparison between Brady’s athletic prowess and his broadcasting skills was never favorable to him. It’s similar to how Andy Rooney found it difficult to maintain a friendship with a doctor who lacked expertise in areas outside of medicine, as he would doubt their abilities even in their professional field. In essence, the expectation for Brady to excel in broadcasting, given his legendary status in football, was unrealistic and ultimately doomed to failure, as nothing about Tom Brady should ever be considered average.

It’s not beneficial that we prefer our legendary figures to be non-human. Greatest of All Time (GOAT) characters should maintain an air of enigma and a separation from us ordinary folks. Brady, in retrospect, should have been aware of this. The rationale behind Michael Jordan never becoming a broadcaster is evident: he only appears to enhance his legend and remind the youth who the actual NBA GOAT is, before disappearing again. This detachment is crucial. It’s not ideal to see Bob Dylan or Beyoncé hosting the Grammys, Meryl Streep or Jack Nicholson hosting the Oscars. You want them to be missed. This principle holds even more weight for athletes, who are immediately exposed as being past their prime once they retire, transforming into what they essentially are: someone too old to perform what they were most renowned for. There’s a thin line between “Hall of Famer” and “a worn-out figure who can’t stop reminiscing about the past.” That’s why Jordan is so astute in mostly remaining quiet. Allow them to recall you as you once were, not as you are now.

As a passionate gamer, I can relate to Brady’s competitive spirit. From being a backup college player who barely got drafted, he rose to become one of the greatest football players ever, proving all his doubters wrong. Broadcasting was just another challenge he wanted to conquer. The $37.5 million yearly salary didn’t hurt either.

However, I believe this venture won’t last long. Brady has already shown signs of restlessness, becoming a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and offering advice on team and personnel matters. This, as a broadcaster, is clearly a conflict of interest.

This season, he’s been subjected to criticism from strangers, even his grandmother, in a way he hasn’t before. I suspect he won’t let them have that privilege for much longer. In the end, there’s glory in silence, and that’s what Brady—and we fans—need.

Leitch, who is set to publish his new book titled Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride, is also a writer for New York Magazine and the founding editor of Deadspin, a former sports website.

In the February 5th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, this tale was published. To keep up with future issues, click here to subscribe.

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2025-02-07 19:55