NFL on FOX analyst Greg Olsen offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of broadcast production meetings. Explaining that while coaches may provide detailed insights, only a fraction of that information actually makes air. After a recent appearance by Olsen’s broadcast teammate Tom Brady sitting in the Las Vegas Raiders coach’s box during a game. Many speculated if there is a conflict of interest between Brady serving as FOX’s top analyst and minority owner of the Raiders. Especially when it came to weekly production meetings with NFL teams.
Speaking candidly during an appearance on Pardon My Take, Olsen said the level of access and transparency varies greatly in those meetings depending on the coach.
While the behind-the-scenes access is valuable. Olsen made clear that most of what is shared never finds its way onto the broadcast. “There’s one or two nuggets from every production meeting on average that really ever make the broadcast,” he said.
Some are comfortable sharing strategy, tendencies, and personnel plans. On the other end of the spectrum, Olsen noted, some teams are more guarded. In those instances, broadcasters may hear little more than clichés about ball security, third down efficiency, or respecting the opponent.
“There are some coaches where we know going into the meeting, we only have to talk to them,” Olsen explained. “They’re going to be very forthright. They’re going to be very honest. They’re going to tell us exactly where the matchups are, exactly what the thought processes are … and they know over years of doing this that there’s a level of trust, that it’s sacred and it doesn’t go any further.”
“You hang up and you say, ‘I could have gotten that from their press conference,’” Olsen said.
That wide range of approaches is accepted as part of the job. Olsen emphasized that it is ultimately up to each team to determine how much they reveal. “However a team wants to handle their production meetings with me … the situation is entirely up to them,” he said. “Whatever they see fit that they think protects their information, they have every right to.”
Olsen also addressed how Tom Brady’s arrival to the FOX booth next year may affect those conversations. The possibility of coaches holding back information from Brady, given his long playing career, has been a topic of discussion in NFL circles. Olsen dismissed any concern, saying the decision lies solely with teams. “If they don’t want to tell Tom anything, great,” Olsen said. “If they feel comfortable and don’t think Tom’s going to take it and go anywhere with it, which I assume he’s not, then they’ll tell him more.”
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