Tom Brady’s NFL broadcasting career faced criticism once again during the pregame show for the Packers-Vikings matchup as he failed to recall Green Bay’s fourth loss of the season
Tom Brady’s mythical career as an NFL quarterback has been great for New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, but the supporters of teams on the opposite side of seven-time Super Bowl success are relishing in his transition to the broadcast booth, which has been full of hiccups.
During the pregame coverage of the Minnesota Vikings matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Brady struggled to recall the teams that Green Bay lost to this season, causing an awkward moment on live TV and another roasting session online.
Brady’s mistake occurred while standing alongside his broadcasting partner Kevin Burkhardt, as they broke down the stakes of the NFC North game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brady began by confidently summarizing the Packers season, noting their four losses and the importance of the game ahead.
“It’s [the NFC North matchup] a big road challenge. They’ve got four losses, Green Bay does. Two of them to the Lions. They’re a good team. The Eagles, they lost to them, they’re a good team,” Brady said. The trouble started when Brady attempted to identify the Packers’ fourth loss.
“And they lost to the, uh, what’d they lose to the other one? Anyway, they’ve got a big opportunity today to go on the road and really a litmus test for what they’re going to face in two weeks. Can’t wait to watch,” he finished. But the unease in his voice was all of the ammo that the internet needed to critique Fox’s lead NFL analyst, who signed a 10-year, $375 million deal to land the job.
Green Bay’s other loss came against the Vikings in Week 4, which was a glaring omission for someone tasked with previewing the matchup. Social media wasted no time calling out Brady’s mistake, and the criticisms ranged from hilarious to brutal.
One fan simply wrote, “Please make Greg Olsen the #1 guy again.” Others laughed at Brady finally appearing human after such a successful NFL career. “As a Dolphins fan and someone who grew up with him owning my existence in the NFL, it gives me just a bit of solace to know he is not perfect or good at everything,” a user on X wrote.
“Tom Brady was a legendary football player. Certainly the best of his generation. Niceties out of the way, he is a truly AWFUL announcer, and he should quit before he completely destroys his legacy,” another fan said. Even Burkhardt didn’t escape the crossfire with another adding, “This is honestly as much on Kevin Burkhardt as it is on Tom Brady. Burkhardt should have instantly remembered that too.”
Brady’s transition to broadcasting has been scrutinized several times this season, but he’s also had several moments that have wowed fans with his knowledge of the game. He was complimented for his IQ during a spot-on touchdown call during the Steelers-Eagles game in Week 15 and praised during his in-studio appearance with his Fox colleagues.