Tom Brady Acknowledges 3 Former Teammates Who Inspired Him to Call NFL Games

Tom Brady, widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, has transitioned from the gridiron to the broadcast booth after joining Fox Sports as a lead analyst for the upcoming season.

Brady, who had an illustrious 23-season career, is expected to provide viewers with a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the game he dominated.

In an interview with ESPN host Stephen A. Smith at Fanatics Fest 2024 in New York, the seven-time Super Bowl champion said he never saw himself in broadcasting. But he shared that he was inspired to try it by three former teammates who found success as TV analysts after hanging their cleats.

"It (broadcasting) wasn't even really on the radar when I retired," said Brady in the video posted by podcaster Mikey Domagala on YouTube. "But I saw (former) teammates go into it with a great degree of success."

The five-time Super Bowl MVP then mentioned Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest and Rodney Harrison as the guys who inspired him to enter broadcasting. Brady played with all of them on the New England Patriots.

"I kind of looked at them and realized that they were great leaders," Brady added. "(I looked at) how they expressed their views on television to really spread their positive outlook on how football has meant to them."

The 47-year-old icon said being a lead analyst is similar to being a quarterback. He added that he's excited to share his perspective with the viewers, saying he "feels most comfortable" when he's on the hot seat and calling the shots.

Brady, who recently enjoyed his experience at the Paris Olympics , made his broadcast debut with Fox Sports at the UFL Championship in June 2024. He will make his NFL coverage debut on Sept. 8 when the Dallas Cowboys face the Cleveland Browns.

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