The newly-retired NFL star explains reasons behind his decision to take a gap year and join FOX Sports for the 2024 season days after announcing his retirement.
- Feb 8, 2023
AceShowbiz - Tom Brady's field era might be over but the start of his career into broadcasting will soon begin. The retired NFL star has confirmed that he'll take a gap year and join FOX Sports for the 2024 season.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion told Fox Sports' "The Herd" on Monday, February 6 about the importance of processing all he's been through as a reason for taking a gap year. "Decompression's important," he began.
"You're on this crazy treadmill/hamster wheel loving it at the same time. It's a daily fight…For me, I want to be great at what I do," Tom, who recently announced that he's retiring "for good," further explained. "Talking last week to the people at FOX Sports and the leadership there, [they're going to allow me] to start my FOX opportunity in the fall of 2024."
Tom later emphasized that he wants to "take some time to really learn, to become great at what I do [and] thinking about the opportunity and make sure I don't rush into anything." The 45-year-old sports superstar added, "I never wanted to let anybody down and I think that's the biggest motivator in what I do." He also said that he would take the hiatus not just to get up to speed on his FOX job but "also catching up on other parts of my life that need some time and energy."
Tom's deal to become the lead NFL analyst on FOX is reportedly worth $375 million over 10 years. He signed it last year before unretiring to give it one more go with Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season.
The New York Post reported the salary figure, though FOX threw cold water on it in a statement. "What has been reported isn't an accurate description of the deal and we have not released details beyond what was disclosed on our quarterly earnings call," the statement read.
FOX Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch broke the news during the company's fiscal third-quarter earnings call last February. Asked when the deal would begin, given that Tom had subsequently made news by un-retiring, Lachlan said, "It is entirely up to him for when he chooses to retire and move into what will be an exciting and stellar television career. That is up to him to make that choice when he sees fit."
Over the course of an agreement that Lachlan called "long-term," he said Tom will "not only call our biggest NFL games" with lead play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt, but "he will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives." Lachlan noted, "We are delighted that Tom is committed to joining the FOX team, and we wish him the best in this upcoming season."
