Tom Brady slams 'clickbait' critics as he teases staying with Fox beyond 10-year, $375M contract

Tom Brady has heard plenty of criticism since swapping the NFL field for the broadcast booth, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion isn’t letting social media commentary distract him as he prepares for his third season with FOX Sports.

Brady’s transition from legendary quarterback to television analyst has been closely watched. After retiring following the 2022 season, he joined FOX’s lead NFL crew alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt.

The duo has quickly become one of the network’s most prominent broadcasting teams, with Brady continuing to develop in the demanding role.

Although Brady showed significant improvement during his second season, some viewers still question whether he’s reached the standard expected from a player with his extraordinary football résumé.

Comparisons with established analysts such as Greg Olsen and Troy Aikman have also fueled debate among NFL fans. However, Brady appears determined to block out the noise.

Brady wants to earn a longer FOX future

Speaking to Sports Business Journal, Brady dismissed much of the criticism directed his way as “clickbait.”

The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback suggested that social media reactions often come from people who don't fully understand what goes into his broadcasts.

"It's clickbait for people, and it's something that people have no idea what they're really glomming onto,” Brady said.

“They just put it out there in the world and see what sticks. So to me, I just focus on what I need to do to be prepared. That's what I did as a player, and I go out there every week as a broadcaster and try to do the same thing.”

Rather than worrying about those opinions, Brady says he’s focused on preparation and continuing to improve. That mindset should sound familiar to anyone who followed his playing career.

The 48-year-old also made it clear that he doesn't believe his FOX position should simply be handed to him. Brady said he still has plenty to prove to himself, his teammates and FOX executives, while expressing hope that the network will want him around through the end of his current agreement.

"I have a lot to prove to myself, to my teammates. I have a lot to prove to the executives. I want to go earn it, and I don't want anything given to me. I hope they'll have me through the end of this contract. I love getting to enjoy the game. I love watching good football,” added Brady .

Brady signed his enormous 10-year, $375 million FOX contract in 2022, before returning for one final NFL season with Tampa Bay. The deal made him the highest-paid sportscaster in history at the time and underlined the network’s belief in his potential as a broadcaster.

His development has involved some significant changes to his preparation. Brady previously acknowledged that he was initially overwhelming himself with information, creating so many pages of notes that it became difficult to react naturally during a live broadcast.

That approach eventually changed, as instead of trying to prepare like a traditional television analyst, Brady began thinking more like the quarterback he had been for more than two decades.

That adjustment has allowed him to rely more heavily on his instincts and football knowledge while responding to plays as they happen. His second season showed signs that the change was working, particularly during high-profile playoff assignments.

Now, entering Year 3, Brady has another opportunity to demonstrate how far he’s come.