Tom Brady will be in Fox Sports’ studio booth when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, Feb. 9. Legendary NFL tight end Greg Olsen could have been in that spot if not for Brady taking his broadcasting job.
Olsen had recently expressed frustration about the situation, sparking speculation and discussions. However, the former NFL All-Pro cleared the air ahead of the mega event in New Orleans.
Greg Olsen Sets Record Straight on Tom Brady Replacing Him
Olsen was paired with Kevin Burkhardt for the 2021 season, and the pair were promoted to Fox’s No. 1 broadcast team.
They called Super Bowl 57 and worked together for the 2023 season, but Olsen was demoted in 2024 for the recently retired Tom Brady, whom Fox paid $375 million to be its top color commentator.
Despite the demotion and his salary dropping from $10 million to $3 million, it’s all love and respect between the former NFL athletes.
“I’ve talked to Tom regularly throughout the whole season, and we’ve gotten to know each other really well. I have a ton of respect for him, which goes without saying, as a player, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him as a guy since he’s joined Fox. So this whole narrative of like, ‘I hate watching him call games,’ and all that is not true,” he began.
Greg Olsen sets the record straight on Tom Brady @gmfb pic.twitter.com/ZdVFPl6gTS
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) February 6, 2025
“Here I am on national TV setting the record straight. … I like Tom. I want to see him. I’ve tried to help him, I’ve answered questions to the best that I can.
“But, like, I want to see him do well. I want to see him and Kevin and EA [Erin Andrews], and Tom Rinaldi have a great broadcast. Like, I don’t have any personal animosity,” Olsen added.
Following the Divisional Round, Olsen appeared in a couple of interviews. He was asked if he thinks he’ll be on the call for the biggest games of the season anytime soon and how he feels about Brady calling the Super Bowl this year.
“I hope so,” Olsen said about calling big games. “I’ll be honest, it’s hard sitting home on the couch watching the games. And you know you’re sitting there, and you’re living and dying with every broadcast, and you’re sitting there, and you’re dissecting everything that’s said and done. What would you have said, and what would you have done?”
I asked Greg Olsen if he sees a path to broadcasting a Super Bowl again soon, given Tom Brady's deal
"Wherever it is, whatever network it's on…my goal is to continue to show I'm as good if not better than anybody in this industry, I just need a chair." @wcnc #Panthers pic.twitter.com/Y0fVdvAHlW
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) January 27, 2025
“I’ve called the highest games, we’ve called some of the biggest games in NFL history, some of the biggest audiences in NFL history, Super Bowls. To not do it anymore is hard, it’s not ideal,” Olsen added.
In another interview with The Athletic’s Joseph Pearson, Olsen tried to describe his feelings towards Brady, Fox, or anyone else on the No. 1 crew.
“I don’t think resentment’s probably accurate. But I also think it’s not too far off if I’m being honest,” Olsen said. “I don’t have any ill will — there’s no personal resentment toward Tom or, obviously, K.B. [Burkhardt] and Erin [Andrews].
“I still talk to all of them fairly regularly. I’m hoping to see them next week down in New Orleans and grab dinner or a drink and just kind of shoot the s***, catch up.”
It’ll be a full circle moment for Brady to announce the mega event in New Orleans as he returns to the site of his first Super Bowl win. Burkhardt will join him to entertain the fans while the Chiefs chase an unprecedented three-peat. Andrews and Rinaldi will be the sideline reporters for the final game of the 2024 NFL season.
Greg Olsen was both a wonderful player and a wonderful commentator. I fervently hope that another network will realize this and ut him in a #1 role!
Sorry – the statement above should read “and put him in a #1 role!”