Tom Brady is bringing quarterback-room language to the FOX Sports booth. Moreover, the retired legend says the goal is simply to entertain viewers.
What We Know: Brady made a rare appearance on THE GRONK AND JULES SHOW podcast following his call of the Green Bay Packers win over the New England Patriots. When asked about his use of language on the broadcasts which has caught widespread attention, Brady brushed off any critique hoping the viewer is entertained. During FOX’s Week 2 Cowboys-Commanders broadcast, Brady called a Dak Prescott deep ball to CeeDee Lamb an “absolute piss missile.” Earlier that game, he blurted “Oh, s—” after Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow. Then, on November 1, he let the same phrase slip during a FOX NFL Sunday trivia segment. Additionally, he labeled a Justin Herbert interception a “meatball sub” in Week 3.
What They Said: (All quotes via THE GRONK AND JULES SHOW):
Tom Brady on bringing out unique lingo from the locker room to the broadcast booth: “These have been in our football language vernacular for a long time. We sit in quarterback rooms all day long talking about meatballs and meatball subs. To have a chance to actually just say it, it’s actually fun. Let’s make it fun for the viewer and not take ourselves too seriously. I hope nobody like takes it too seriously. We’re just having fun.”
Tom Brady hopes his work is entertaining for the fans: “We’re here to entertain people. There’s times to be uber serious about this sport, and there’s other times to enjoy it. It’s a spectacle for all of us. Now that I’m out of it, I just hope those guys on the field know the kind of entertainment they can bring just by going out there and preparing hard, competing hard, and playing their ass off.”
What Remains Unclear: Brady promised in September to clean up his language, yet another slip followed on November 1. Meanwhile, he revealed on Instagram that the FCC called him after the “piss missile” remark. Therefore, it remains unclear how much locker-room vocabulary FOX will tolerate.
What It Means: Brady clearly views the booth as entertainment, calling the sport “a spectacle for all of us.” Consequently, terms like “meatball sub” give viewers a window into the meeting room. However, live network television carries FCC limits a film session never did. Ultimately, FOX must balance that fun with broadcast standards for its reported $375 million analyst.
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