Resentment isn’t the word for Greg Olsen, but it fits his feelings.
While he’s resonated with Awful Announcing’s readers, who ranked him as part of the No. 1 announcing crew in the sport, he’s been noticeably absent during the biggest games. That’s by design, though, as Olsen was demoted in favor of Tom Brady and his 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox. Brady isn’t going anywhere, but Olsen is chomping at the bit to call the biggest games.
Olsen, who has been praised time and time again for his insightfulness on Fox’s No. 2 team, knows that his success isn’t contingent on Brady. But as he sits there, tweeting along with the rest of us, he can’t help but feel like something’s missing.
He’s made it clear that he wants to call top games, a message he echoed during a recent Q&A with The Athletic’s Joseph Person. However, he also noted that sitting back and watching isn’t something he wants to do for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t think resentment’s probably accurate. But I also think it’s not too far off if I’m being honest,” Olsen told Person when asked about any resentment toward Brady or his employer. I don’t have any ill will — there’s no personal resentment towards Tom or, obviously, K.B. (Kevin Burkhardt) and Erin (Andrews). I still talk to all of them fairly regularly. I’m hoping to see them next week down in New Orleans and grab dinner or a drink and just kind of shoot the sh*t, catch up.
“But yeah, it’s hard to sit there and watch games that over the last couple of years you were preparing for, and you were calling. And then you’re sitting there on your couch and you’re watching the game, you’re almost kind of broadcasting the game in your brain. You’re saying, ‘Oh, man, what would I have said on this play? There was so much to talk about there. That would’ve been super fun to dive into.'”
As he sat through Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, he couldn’t help but feel the itch to break down critical moments, like a coaching decision made by Dan Quinn.
One of the few times I don’t agree with Dan Quinn’s approach
This early in game just accumulate as many points as you can. Opponent points aren’t a major factor. Tying the game doesn’t matter at this stage of game.
We’ll see how it plays out
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) January 26, 2025
Lesson to be learned here by DQ
GREAT JOB using his timeouts in the previous 2 defensive drives. Extend the game as long as you can to buy an extra possession
We hear all the time, “save a TO for the kick”
No, save time for a good QB!
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) January 26, 2025
Olsen’s eagerness to call top games couldn’t be any more clear.
As he watches games unfold from the sidelines, he is consumed by a sense of longing. He is also fighting an internal battle as he mentally broadcasts the game from his couch, imagining how he could provide insight and analysis.
“So you’re kinda driving yourself crazy with all these what-if scenarios as you’re watching the game,” Olsen says. “It’s very hard now to watch the games and just sit back and watch.”
Two years ago, he called Super Bowl LVII, and with a Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles rematch on the doorstep, it’ll be Brady who gets the call instead.
Again, resentment might not be the word, but the sentiment is unmistakable.
“My goal is to call top games,” he tells Person. “I’ve been very adamant about that over the last couple years. My goal is still to get back there. I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know where that takes place. But I’m continuing to work towards that goal and hopefully have the opportunity get back to calling these marquee games at some point.”
