Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady (Photo via @NFL Twitter)
After what was widely regarded as a disappointing broadcasting debut in Cleveland on Sunday, Tom Brady will try to rebound when he and Kevin Burkhardt call another marquee matchup in Week 2.
Per John Hendrix of Saints News Network, Tom Brady, Kevin Burkhardt and Erin Andrews will be on the call for the early afternoon showdown between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
Brady essentially confirmed as well that he’ll be in Dallas with his new Instagram story:
Tom Brady is familiar with the Saints, having faced them seven times (including once in the postseason) during his three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady faced Dallas thrice as a Buc, including their 31-14 Wild Card Round loss that marked the final game of his illustrious career.
So Brady’s familiarity with the two teams, coupled with the experience after a shaky debut, will hopefully lead to a better performance in the booth on Sunday.
Tom Brady signed a 10-year deal with FOX Sports worth $375 million in 2022, before he began his final season as an NFL quarterback with the Bucs. Brady took the 2023 season off before making his long-awaited transition to the broadcast booth this year.
It’s unknown which game Brady and Burkhardt will call in Week 3. Among the games on the FOX schedule, the Baltimore Ravens’ visit to Dallas is the juiciest matchup, though the network may not want their top commentary team to call the Cowboys in three straight weeks.
The San Francisco 49ers-Los Angeles Rams clash at SoFi Stadium or the Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to New Orleans are among the other enticing games that Brady could get assigned to.
Fans Should Be Patient With Tom Brady
Football fans and pundits need to keep in mind that there’s a major difference between playing professional football and calling the game in the booth. Brady has never done NFL analysis on live TV, so it’s unfair to judge him entirely after one week.
If Brady hasn’t improved with his on-air delivery and analysis within a few weeks, then the criticism will be justified. But let’s see how he does over the next 3-4 weeks before rushing to conclusions.
