Tom Brady and Peyton Manning had their fair share of battles in the NFL over the years. Now, they’re both retired and continuing their football careers in the media rather than on the field.
With Manning coaching at the Pro Bowl Games in 2024, he was asked about Brady starting his broadcasting career soon. What’d he have to say about Brady’s entrance into the business?
Peyton Manning Welcomes Tom Brady Into Broadcasting Business
Brady’s official retirement came just over a year ago, as he made the announcement on Feb. 1, 2023. However, before he even walked away from the sport, he signed a 10-year, $375 million contract to be the lead analyst for the FOX Sports team.
The deal was announced in May 2022, and executive chairman and CEO of FOX Corporation, Lachlan Murdoch, said Brady would join the team “immediately following his playing career.” However, that did not happen, and there was a year-long gap.
“I mean, I’m not sure I’m the one that can give him advice,” said Manning when asked about the start of Brady’s broadcasting career. Manning retired in 2016 and is now the co-host of the Peyton and Eli ManningCast, a simulcast of ESPN’s Monday Night Football started in 2021.
“Tom actually did reach out to me recently and had some questions,” said Manning. “I kind of said, ‘I’m not sure what Eli and I do is really the same as what you’re about to do.'” Manning also shared that Brady had spoken with Cris Collinsworth and other commentators.
“Tom is an extremely hard worker, always has been. So, I have no doubt he’ll take that same work ethic to the broadcasting job and work hard at it,” said Manning. “You know, Kevin Burkhardt is one of the top play-by-play guys out there, so he’s got a great teammate already. So I think he’ll do a great job.”
As Manning mentioned, Brady will be working alongside Burkhardt, who has been with FOX since 2013. He was promoted to the lead broadcast team alongside Greg Olsen in 2022 after Joe Buck left for ESPN. Brady will be replacing Olsen, who has been open about his disagreement with being replaced by Brady.
During their playing careers, Manning and Brady faced off 17 times, with Brady owning the head-to-head series 11-6. Manning does, however, own the head-to-head record in the postseason at 3-2. Their most recent face-off was on Nov. 2, 2014, when Brady and the New England Patriots won 43-21.
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“Now I get to see other guys do it, and I also get to see football from a different perspective,” said Brady in 2023 on the Let’s Go podcast with Jim Gray. “I’ll be on Fox next year, so I have a chance to really sit back and watch and learn a different career.”
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