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Popular Fox Sports NFL analyst Greg Olsen recently confirmed to Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer that he’s still employed by the network even as retired quarterback Tom Brady prepares to take Olsen’s chair later this year.
“We’re still working through all of that,” Olsen explained about the unique and potentially awkward situation. “Right now, I’m still under contract with Fox. So obviously that’s still on the table to go back and call games with Fox, albeit on a different crew, assuming that Tom, obviously, is going to come. We’ll sort that out through the rest of the offseason in the spring.”
Brady and Fox agreed to a 10-year deal reportedly worth $375M following the 2021 season for the seven-time Super Bowl champion to eventually become the network’s lead NFL analyst. There’s no indication Brady’s desire to become a limited partner with the Las Vegas Raiders will impact his working relationship with the league’s media partner, and Olsen is expected to be part of Fox’s No. 2 broadcast crew for at least the 2024 season.
Some have suggested that Fox could feature a three-man booth of Olsen, Brady and play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt for one campaign so that Brady can learn on the job while Olsen remains with Fox’s top team. Richard Deitsch of The Athletic reported on Feb. 12 that such an idea is “not in the cards,” but Deitsch also remains convinced Brady “will not complete the Fox contract.”
Olsen is somewhat stuck because every other network already has lead NFL analysts under contract for next season. Even if skeptical individuals such as Deitsch are proven right, it’s unknown when Brady may walk away from a broadcasting gig he hasn’t yet started.
“Still under contract with them, still get to call some of the best games of the NFL slate,” Olsen added about his relationship with Fox. “And obviously my goal is never going to change. I want to get back to calling Super Bowls and NFC Championship games and the premier matchups of every week like I have done the last two years, and we’ll see what opportunities arise to try to make that a reality.”
In February 2023, media reporter Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated said that Olsen and Burkhardt “more than lived up to the big moment” regarding their call of Super Bowl LVII. Brady is currently on track to work Super Bowl LIX alongside Burkhardt in February 2025, but it sounds like Olsen will be ready in case the network needs to go to the bullpen for any reason.
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