Tom Brady could go to the Super Bowl even if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not make it with Fox Sports reportedly looking to involve him in broadcast coverage.
Super Bowl LVII will be played at State Farm Stadium in Arizona and Fox - a major network in the United States - are planning their coverage of the championship game. Brady is apparently included in those plans if the Buccaneers do not make it to the big game amid the NFC South team’s struggles.
For the first time in 20 years, Brady has suffered a three-game losing streak following defeats to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and now the Baltimore Ravens. Brady threw for 325 yards in the 27-22 loss to Lamar Jackson and co. on Thursday night, but he only tossed one touchdown after not throwing any against the hapless Panthers.
On top of that, Brady competed just 59.1% of his passes on Thursday night as the Buccaneers slipped to 3-5 on the season. Remarkably, it is the first time in the iconic quarterback’s storied career that he is under 500 for two games in a row.
Front Office Sports reported that Fox are hoping to bring Brady in, with one source saying: “If he's not playing in the game, I would expect Brady to be part of Fox's Super Bowl coverage. Definitely. I would be very surprised if he isn’t.”
The team have a route to the playoffs due to their weak division, but Fox are hoping the GOAT will start his analyst career for the big game even if Brady hasn’t yet retired. Fox are reportedly creating multiple contingency plans to figure out how - and when - Brady will appear on their coverage.
Plans range from joining the ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ crew during pregame, halftime and postgame show, but Brady could even join Fox’s leading broadcast team of play-by-play caller Kevin Burkhardt and colour commentator Greg Olsen. The network have also signed Brady to a 10-year, $375 million to join the booth once his career ends but plans have emerged to rush him in in order to call Super Bowl LVII.
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There is no timeline for Brady to begin his sportscasting career and retirement doesn't appear to be on the horizon for the seven-time Super Bowl champion. Earlier this year on his SiriusXM radio show, Brady said: “I said last week that there's no immediate retirement in my future. There was a retirement in the past, but I moved on from that.
“I made a commitment to this team, and I love this team, and I love this organisation. I told them in March I was playing, and I've never quit on anything in my life.”
The reports come amid the news that Brady and model Gisele Bundchen have officially completed their divorce after 13 years of marriage. The announcement came on Friday, with both parties releasing statements.
On the pitch, the Buccaneers are now second in the NFC South with a 3-5 record. They host the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in a season-defining clash in Week 9.
