New FOX Sports NFL analyst Tom Brady was a guest on "The Herd" on FS1

NFL legend Tom Brady is no stranger to high-pressure situations, but as he transitions to his new role as a broadcaster for FOX Sports, he admits to feeling the familiar pre-game nerves.

During an appearance on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, Brady shared his thoughts on the upcoming challenge and the meticulous preparation he believes will be key to his success.

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Brady, who is set to join FOX Sports’ lead NFL broadcast team, expressed his excitement about his new gig and confessed he has missed having structure in his life after football.

“I believe that broadcasting at FOX this year for the first time will give me a lot more structure like I’m used to. And I really actually will look forward to that,” he said.

Despite his extensive experience and numerous accolades, including seven Super Bowl wins, five Super Bowl MVPs, and three NFL MVPs, Brady admitted he still anticipates feeling nervous before his debut.

He reflected on his career, noting that he “always had nerves” before games, and expects the same feeling as he prepares for his first broadcast during the Dallas Cowboys versus Cleveland Browns game in Week 1 of the 2024 season.

“Almost like when I was a player, I never felt like I did things the right way,” Brady explained.

“There were games where I’d go in afterward and think, ‘God, I’m the worst quarterback in the NFL. Why would they even want me to play quarterback for this team?’ And I’m sure I’m going to feel that way here at FOX, where I finish a game and go, ‘God I didn’t even give them what they wanted.’ It’s a very challenging thing in your own mind. I’ve asked a few people: ‘How do you know that you did a good job?'”

Tom Brady doesn’t want to let fans down

Brady emphasized the importance of preparation, a habit that has been crucial throughout his career.

“The outcomes weren’t guaranteed for any of us,”Brady said.

“You never really know how sports are going to go, which is why we all tune in. We tune in because the outcomes are very unexpected. … The only way that I knew how to combat the nerves and the anxiousness of the game was to prepare.”

He believes this same level of preparation will be essential in his new role as a broadcaster.

“So much of this is going to come down to the preparation. Did I feel like I was prepared? Did I feel like our crew was prepared? Did I give them the best over the course of the week so that we could give ourselves the best opportunity to be successful for the fans? Really, the game is the show. We are there to add our take and our analysis on it. But also, did it feel like we added to the broadcast? From my standpoint, I’m going to work as hard as I can on the process of it to make sure that I do deliver. I don’t want to let anyone down. I don’t want to let the people at FOX here down, and I certainly don’t want to let the great NFL fans down either.”

Brady got his first taste of a live football broadcast during the UFL Championship Game alongside Curt Menefee and Joel Klatt.

 

He has also been rehearsing with archived game footage in the FOX Sports studios in Los Angeles, pushing himself with the same intensity that defined his playing career.

His first official broadcast test is set for September 8 in Cleveland at 4:25 p.m. ET.