Media insider doubles down on bold claim about Tom Brady's broadcast contract

Sports media insider Richard Deitsch of The Athletic remains convinced that retired quarterback Tom Brady will eventually have second thoughts about his 10-year deal with Fox reportedly worth $375M. The agreement will have him begin working as Fox's lead NFL analyst this coming season. 

"I’d bet all the money I own that Tom Brady will not complete the Fox contract," Deitsch told fellow media insider Andrew Marchand of The Athletic during the latest edition of the "Sports Media with Richard Deitsch" podcast, as shared by Sean Keeley of Awful Announcing. "I can’t tell you how many years he will be there, but it seems inconceivable, to me, that he would be there for all 10." 

Interestingly, Marchand repeatedly raised eyebrows in 2023 when he questioned/doubted Brady's commitment to replacing the popular Greg Olsen as Fox's No. 1 analyst after the seven-time Super Bowl champion took a "gap year" out of the NFL. Some have suggested Olsen could pursue a gig with a different network even though none of the league's media partners currently have lead analyst jobs available, but Deitsch wrote for a piece published on Jan. 29 that the former tight end should wait Brady out and serve on Fox's No. 2 NFL broadcast team for a season. 

"Given Brady’s significant interests away from broadcasting, it seems unlikely he will come close to completing his 10-year broadcasting/ambassador deal with Fox," Deitsch said at that time. 

It was reported in February that Brady's agreement with Fox shouldn't impact his becoming a limited partner with the Las Vegas Raiders as soon as later this month. The 46-year-old shared during this past NFL season that he's already practiced calling games with Fox lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt.

"Kevin Burkhardt is a very good play-by-player, but what he’s really the best at is getting a lot out of his teammate," Marchand said during the podcast episode. "I think Olsen’s success had something to do with [having] Burkhardt as a partner. Kevin is unselfish and wants his analyst to do well. He [made] it about Olsen, and he will make it about Brady. That’s a huge advantage for him that the point guard that he’s going to have is someone who wants to make him look good and put him in good situations to do well." 

One can only guess in March how Brady will feel about being away from his children while traveling for work every week from September through January. Perhaps he'll decide he doesn't need the money enough to give Fox more than a season, or maybe he'll find that he's a natural in the booth and simply wants to remain attached to the NFL even in retirement.