Tom Brady has had a busy football season. He made his NFL broadcasting debut as an analyst for Fox in September. In October, the NFL approved his purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders — a move that set off an ongoing debate over conflicts of interest between his role in the broadcast booth and his role as a part-owner. Now, Brady is set to call his first Super Bowl game as an analyst.
As part of a Fox Sports media conference call with about 20 reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Brady addressed some of the topics that have intersected with his first year as Fox’s lead NFL analyst. Here are some excerpts from that call, which The Athletic sat in on.
Note: Conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
On Brady’s role with the Raiders
My ownership interests in the Raiders is just much more of a long-term, kind of behind the scenes type role. I am there to support the team and leadership and the overall vision of success. The best part for me is I love football so much and the fact that I get to be involved with it for the rest of my life and showcase this great game, not just as a broadcaster which is obviously one way, but in a limited partner role with an organization.
It is something I hope a lot of other players get the opportunity to do. I want the game to continue to grow and continue to improve and get better. Whatever role I can play in that, I am really excited to do that.
Evaluating his year as a broadcaster
I think the mistakes that I have made — and I have made plenty — I have learned from all of them. You are not happy they have happened but at the same time I understand that when they do happen and I mispronounce words or forget a certain statistic or the preparation was a little off in terms of my thoughts on something and I screw up the analysis, I go back and I want to get it right the next time.
Without the mistakes, you don’t learn from them and apply them going forward. … There is no scoreboard for us so you just have to give it your best and you have to have confidence in what you are saying and you have to authoritatively make your mark with what you see because that’s really what you owe the viewer.
I love the ability to take the viewer inside of just the way that I see things. In some ways, it’s very simple. In some ways, it’s very complicated. I think understanding challenges and the art and science of this, you can really only do it through doing it.
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On production meeting restrictions
I’m sure everybody likes being a part of production meetings for a number of reasons. I think the best part is people, is there’s just genuine relationships that get built up over time and a shared experience with people on your own crew. Maybe that is what I miss out on. Just the in-between time with KB (Kevin Burkhardt), Erin (Andrews), and Tom (Rinaldi) and Z (producer Richie Zyontz) and Ruse (director Rich Russo) and just talking about football.
I think from research standpoint, I mean I listen to press conferences all week. To me there’s really no difference in a media member asking a question or Wednesday, Thursday or Friday press conference or a postgame press conference that would be any different from any of the questions that I would ask or the crew would ask. I think from my standpoint what I probably miss most is the genuine relationships that get built up. In terms of my research, I don’t think it has much effect at all.
What he wants to work on in the offseason
It’s kind of like when I played quarterback. Everything. There is a complexity to football that I’d like to allow the viewer to see in a more simple way. There are a lot of moving parts out there and how I communicate to the viewers in a very concise way so they can learn something or be entertained by something or enjoy the experience a little more, is ultimately what my goal is.
… I have learned a lot and tried to kind of narrow the focus quite a bit during the season to make them more like soundbites. The problem is you can’t get very deep and explain that much in 12 or 20 seconds. Kevin (Burkhardt) does a great job of allowing me to expand on answers as play goes on. I think he and I have tremendous chemistry and I love working with the best playman in the business in Kevin. To work with him on a weekly basis has been a pleasure for me. Tom and Erin, the same way. I stepped into the A Team and I was the rookie and they have all had so much patience in dealing with me as I have gone through this learning curve.
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On comparisons between the Chiefs and Patriots
I think it’s natural for everybody to compare teams of the past and players of the past. None of it surprises me. It’s been happening since I was a young player. It’s not how I view things, though. I think I approached the game in a way that was, can I be the best for myself and my teammates and what is the best version of myself every year without comparing to anyone else. It was me versus me all the time. That was the motivation I needed. It was never about how many Pro Bowls or how many Super Bowls, how many MVPs to win. Because everyone’s got an opinion based on their own flavor and what they like to see. What they could not have an opinion on was how I viewed myself.
I think that is similar to the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. I did a great interview with Patrick for the Super Bowl pregame show. I said to him, “Look, there is nobody that would be more happy for you than me if you go out and you do something that no other team in history has ever done and no other quarterbacks ever done.” Because I love seeing other people achieve great things. Anything that Patrick is doing I don’t believe will ever detract from what I accomplished in my career.
There’s going to be another player beyond Patrick years from now that will be compared. The reality is we all have our own individual journeys and our own football careers and lives. Those are ultimately made up by us as individuals. … The comparisons are fun naturally for the media because it serves different kind of perspectives and context that people can write about and talk about. As a competitor I never viewed it that way and I still don’t today even in the role that I am.
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On reviews of his broadcast
Naturally you hear different things on social media and such. I have friends that will kind of give me little briefings about how it was. All I am trying to do is deliver for the fans. They are the ones we are trying to serve. I am trying to elevate the game the best way I can, and I tried to do that as player by doing things the right way. I was just using my body to do it.
Now I have to articulate through my words to it. I’d just like to continue to try to get better at it knowing you’re never going to please everybody and that’s just the way it works. I certainly didn’t do that as a player. In fact, as the years went on there were more and more detractors in certain ways even though there was a great degree of respect.
I understand I am a long way away from being a finished product as a broadcaster but I really enjoy the opportunity. … It’s been an awesome journey these last 18 months and I know I have at least nine years to go and hopefully more.
On if he is critical of players and coaches
It’s interesting because you don’t want to go on air and be overly critical because it’s not fun for the viewer. I don’t think to take a negative critique is the way that I view the game. We’re viewing athletes at the highest level of what they do. You’re never really insulting the player. You’re insulting the play or the decision. I have tremendous amount of respect for anybody that suits up in uniform and goes out there to play because they’re putting a lot on the line. They put a lot of preparation and going out there to try to be their best.
… At the same time there’s things that I have been critical of that I’m not afraid to kind of speak my honest opinion as soon as I see it. I want to be very fair. I want to be very transparent. I have a great commitment to integrity. I take that very seriously in this role. When I am on air I am 100 percent focused on being the best broadcaster I can be.
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