AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File
Fox Sports announced Tuesday that Tampa
Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will become its lead NFL analyst
following his on-field retirement, and he’ll reportedly receive a
record-breaking contract whenever that day arrives.
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Brady and Fox Sports have agreed to a 10-year, $375 million contract that will go into effect after the quarterback’s retirement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports had reported Brady was expected to earn around $200 million on a long-term
contract with an annual salary between $20 million and $25 million,
surpassing the $18 million mark of CBS’ Tony Romo and ESPN’s Troy
Aikman. Now, per Marchand, Brady will reportedly have an AAV that will more than double both Romo and Aikman.
Brady retired in February, but his
departure from the NFL only lasted six weeks before he confirmed his
return for the 2022 season.
Tom Brady @TomBrady
These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG <a href=”https://t.co/U0yhRKVKVm”>pic.twitter.com/U0yhRKVKVm</a>
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported
the wheels were in motion behind the scenes for the legendary quarterback
to join the Miami Dolphins front office, where he would have helped
recruit longtime New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton to lead
the staff.
After the Bucs found a new starting
quarterback, he would have essentially helped work out a trade for
himself and then returned as an active player for Miami.
The plan fell apart when former
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL and
its teams related to alleged racial discrimination in their hiring and
firing practices.
Brady and Co. realized the optics of
hiring a white executive and a white coach in wake of Flores’ lawsuit
would have caused ample criticism, which led him to decide between either
returning to Tampa Bay or staying retired, per Volin.
So the seven-time Super Bowl champion
is back with the Buccaneers, but how long he’ll remain an active
player remains a mystery.
Based on his performance, it’s
possible the 44-year-old California native could play for quite a while.
Brady remained one of the NFL’s best
players in 2021. He completed 67.5 percent of his throws for league highs in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43) and 12 interceptions while playing all 17
games for the Bucs. He finished second in MVP voting to the Green Bay
Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
He’ll become a free agent after the
2022 campaign, so next offseason he’ll have a chance to decide whether
to remain in Tampa, sign with a new team like Miami or head for the
broadcast booth.
He’s going to make a boatload of money
regardless of his final decision.
