Tom Brady‘s legendary NFL career may have been defined by his ability to deliver under pressure, but his first year behind the microphone didn’t quite match those heights.

After signing a monumental 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox Sports to become their lead NFL analyst, Brady‘s transition into broadcasting came with enormous expectations.

However, the debut season didn’t start smoothly-and while his performance improved with time, it wasn’t enough to earn him a nod for the 2025 Sports Emmy Awards.

Brady‘s failure to land a nomination in the Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst category was especially notable considering that Greg Olsen-the man he replaced on Fox’s top broadcast team-earned his fourth straight nomination.

Olsen had been a fan favorite during his two seasons calling marquee NFL games and had even taken home the prestigious Emmy twice.

Even though he was demoted to Fox’s No. 2 crew after Brady‘s arrival, Olsen‘s work continued to shine and has now been recognized once again.

Despite the early bumps, Fox has not lost faith in their blockbuster signing. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the network has no regrets about their investment in Brady.

“Fox has been undeterred by any and all criticism of Brady, whether due to his broadcasting chops or the clear conflict of interest from his capacity as a Raiders owner,” Florio wrote.

“They’ve made the investment, and they’re stuck with it. Right or wrong, the goal was to throw money at a big name. And to promote him unlike any network has ever promoted a game analyst.”

Olsen rises, Brady regroups, and Fox looks ahead

For Olsen, the 2024 season was proof that elite analysis doesn’t require the spotlight of a No. 1 broadcast team. Despite being reassigned, he continued to impress audiences with sharp insights and on-point delivery.

His consistent excellence has kept him firmly in the awards conversation and made it clear that he remains one of the most respected voices in football commentary.

Brady, meanwhile, had a slow start. Viewers and analysts pointed to awkward pacing, a lack of rhythm, and a hesitancy to critique players-all understandable growing pains for a first-year broadcaster.

However, by the time the Super Bowl rolled around, Brady showed marked improvement and handled his biggest assignment of the season with poise.

Fox is betting that year two will bring more comfort and confidence from the former quarterback.

And while he didn’t walk away with an Emmy nomination this time, Brady‘s trajectory suggests that recognition could still come-if he continues to elevate his craft.

For now, Fox is all in. The network remains committed to giving Brady the support he needs to reach elite analyst status.

Whether he can eventually match Olsen‘s success remains to be seen, but Fox clearly believes that the GOAT’s second act is only just beginning.