Goodbye to FOX: 78-year-old Terry Bradshaw knows exactly when the network will fire him

T erry Bradshaw is preparing for the possibility that FOX will decide when his broadcasting career ends, rather than allowing him to announce his own retirement.

The 78-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers legend has been a familiar face on FOX NFL Sunday since joining the network in 1994.

However, despite signing a new two-year extension, Bradshaw believes the broadcaster could replace him once his contract expires following the 2029 Super Bowl.

Speaking to Men's Health while promoting his memoir, Looking for Terry , the four-time Super Bowl champion made it clear that he does not believe his future will necessarily depend on his performances.

“I am totally confident on the air, absolutely,” Bradshaw said. “Supremely confident … I'm going through now what everybody that's in their 70s goes through.

“I'm 78. I just signed a two-year extension, and I'm pretty sure no matter how well I perform over the next two years, they're going to want to replace me.”

Bradshaw has spent decades establishing himself as one of American football's most recognizable television personalities, but he understands that networks eventually look for new faces.

His latest comments suggest he expects FOX to make that decision when the time comes, although the network has not announced plans to remove him.

He also made it clear that fans should not expect a formal retirement announcement from him.

“I'm not going to announce my retirement, because in two years when we do the Super Bowl, after my contract is expiring, I don't want anybody to do a tribute,” he said.

“So I'm never going to say I'm going to retire. Because, look, they may say, ‘Hey, you're still doing a good job. We'll sign you for another year.’ That could easily happen. They're p***ing into the wind if they think I'm gonna tell them I'm retiring.”

Bradshaw refuses to decide his own television future

Bradshaw's comments do not mean his departure from FOX is confirmed. Instead, they reveal his expectation that the network will eventually determine whether he continues on FOX NFL Sunday.

The timing is significant because FOX is scheduled to broadcast the Super Bowl in 2029, when Bradshaw will be around 80 years old. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he previously acknowledged the reality of getting older while explaining why he wanted to keep working.

“I love my job,” Bradshaw said. “This year was the first year that I got nervous. I wanted to extend my contract. So I signed through the Super Bowl. Two more years. I’ll be 80.”

He added: “Everybody in any business has to go. The young guys are coming. But I want to be relevant. I want to be good. I want to continue on. I want America to [tune in] and watch me. I want them to [like] me. I can’t wait to do the show.”

The former quarterback's future has attracted attention amid criticism from some viewers over recent on-air mistakes. Nevertheless, FOX has extended his contract, and Bradshaw maintains that he remains confident in his ability to entertain audiences.

A personal story beyond football

Bradshaw's memoir also explores struggles that were largely hidden during his playing career, including depression, anxiety attacks and an eventual diagnosis in the late 1990s.

“It is an ugly disease,” Bradshaw said when discussing depression. He has also credited his wife, Tammy, with helping him through difficult periods.

“She just gets me out of it. She gets my mind off of it. She frees me up,” Bradshaw explained. “We do something. We talk about it.”

He added: “I may be emotional about it, but I'm totally comfortable with telling her,” and “Men think that's a weakness. I got past it being a weakness. It's a sickness. There's nothing wrong with admitting you've got issues.”

For now, Bradshaw remains committed to his role at FOX. His prediction about 2029 is not an official retirement date or confirmation that the network intends to fire him. It is his own assessment of how his career may end.

And if FOX decides to offer him another contract, Bradshaw has made clear that he is not necessarily ready to walk away.