The reaction to Tom Brady’s NFL on Fox broadcasting debut alongside Kevin Burkhardt has been similar to that of a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start.
It’s ironic in the sense that Brady played 23 years in the NFL, but as former players turned broadcasters will tell you, it’s not an easy transition to make. So, there were the general overreactions to Brady’s debut, but there was also a sense of “give him some time,” knowing that he wouldn’t become Troy Aikman overnight, no matter how much money Fox sunk into his 10-year contract.
Awful Announcing’s Ben Axelrod said as much, and the sentiment was shared across sports media. Colin Cowherd, Bill Simmons, and Dan Patrick argued that Brady was dealing with some first-game jitters and would need time to learn TV. Joe Buck also declared that it’d be grossly unfair to make any declarations about the future Hall of Fame quarterback after about five seconds in the booth.
In the same breath, WFAN’s Evan Roberts called Brady an “embarrassment to the profession,” but perhaps that’s the Jets fan talking in him while aiming to be as inflammatory as possible.
As for another figure in sports media, ESPN’s Elle Duncan wasn’t afraid to speak her mind on The Elle Duncan Show. She eviscerated Brady’s critics, calling them out for their unwarranted negativity while acknowledging that broadcasting isn’t as easy as it looks.
“People in broadcasting love these moments because it’s a big f*ck you to those of you that think that what we do is that easy,” she says. “It is a reminder, guys, broadcasting’s not that easy. Calling games, calling color for games — not easy. We make it look easy. We make it look so easy that you, Joe Blow, at home think you can do it. It’s not that easy.
“On top of the fact that it’s not that easy because of his link to the Raiders and trying to buy the Raiders, there’s like a laundry list of things that Tom Brady isn’t even allowed to say. So, on top of the fact that you’re doing something you’ve never done before, you’re doing it knowing that they gave you over $370 million to do it. You’re doing it knowing that they pulled Greg Olsen off of it to fill you in, something that everyone was upset about because this man just won an Emmy for how good he is.
“You’re doing all of that with auspices of also knowing that there’s many things you can’t say because it’s a violation of tampering or ownership. That is a lot to carry on your shoulders, and I hate that I’m living in a world where I am defending Tom Brady. You guys, it’s wild to me; everyone, like, five minutes into the game, they were like, ‘He is the most dog sh*t broadcaster I’ve ever heard, and he needs to get fired. It’s wild, you guys. Relax.”
I know it’s fun to tell us how much we suck but man broadcasting isn’t easy and now I’m out here defending Tom
Brady 🫠.. #TheElleDuncanShow w/ @garystriewski up now..📺: https://t.co/M20620wWnU pic.twitter.com/hLlUIm4KhX
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) September 10, 2024
Duncan’s defense of Brady reminds us that even the GOATs can face challenges in a new arena.
Broadcasting isn’t just about knowing the game; it’s about connecting with viewers, delivering insightful commentary, and navigating the unique pressures of the job. While Brady’s NFL career was legendary, his transition to the booth shows that even the best need time to find their footing.
So, Duncan is firmly in favor of cutting him some slack and watching how he develops over time.
