Potential Tom Brady role in Miami changes dramatically with his new job. Here’s why
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady’s potential eventual role with the Miami Dolphins changed significantly on Tuesday when Fox Network announced that Brady will become its lead NFL game analyst whenever he retires.
The Fox deal is 10 years for $375 million, according to The New York Post.
That would seem to preclude Brady from taking an executive position with the Dolphins, a scenario that had been in the works earlier this offseason.
A source confirmed an initial report by The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin that the Dolphins were set to give Brady a piece of ownership - with an executive front office title - before Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the Dolphins and Brady decided to continue playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers.
But the source said the job would have been largely ceremonial, with Brady unlikely to be involved in going on scouting trips and evaluating college players.
Though it’s conceivable (albeit unlikely) that Fox and the NFL could allow Brady to own a small piece of the Dolphins and broadcast games for Fox, that would be highly unusual.
And it’s impossible to envision any scenario in which Brady could broadcast games for Fox and be an important piece of the Dolphins front office, including recruiting free agents or having input on personnel.
Besides handling game analyst duties, Fox said Brady “will also serve as an ambassador for us, particularly with respect to client and promotional initiatives.”
Fox’s announcement does not eliminate the possibility of Brady joining the Dolphins as a player in 2023 if the Dolphins aren’t pleased with Tua Tagovailoa this season and if Brady wants to play another season.
According to multiple reports, the Dolphins originally hoped Brady would become their quarterback this season, but it ultimately became too difficult to pull off, with the Flores lawsuit providing an unexpected obstacle.
But Brady will be a free agent after this season and could decide to play for the Dolphins in 2023 before moving into broadcasting a year later.
Brady has a home in South Florida and a close relationship with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Dolphins chairman Bruce Beal, who has first right to purchase the team if Ross sells or passes away.
Brady, 44, is still at the top of his game. He threw 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for Tampa last season. He initially retired in February, then changed his mind weeks later and decided to return to play at least another year for Tampa Bay, which had him under contract.
The NBA has permitted minority owners of teams to handle significant network broadcast jobs, with Utah Jazz part-owner/TNT studio analyst Dwyane Wade and Atlanta Hawks part owner/TNT game analyst Grant Hill among the examples.
The NFL hasn’t typically permitted that, making it unlikely that Brady would transition to any type of meaningful Dolphins role once he retires as a player.
The Dolphins hope the Tua Tagovailoa establishes himself as the team’s franchise quarterback this season, the third of his four-year rookie deal. If he does not, then Brady remains a one-year Dolphins option (if he wants to continue playing), potentially while the Dolphins draft and develop one of a half dozen or so quarterbacks expected to be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
But the Dolphins’ 2023 cap space is limited, and stomaching a substantial one-year cap hit for Brady in 2023 would be onerous and could force the team to cut multiple players.
At Fox, Brady would eventually replace Troy Aikman, who left for ESPN’s Monday Night Football this offseason. Fox also promoted Kevin Burkhardt to its lead NFL play-by-play job after Joe Buck opted to join Aikman at ESPN.
So Brady will work with Burkhardt on Fox’s lead team eventually, whether it’s in 2023 or 2024. In the meantime, Fox must decide on a lead analyst to work alongside Burkhardt in the interim, with former Miami Hurricanes tight end Greg Olsen an option. Olsen’s was Burkhardt’s partner on Fox’s No. 2 team last season.
BROADCAST NOTES
The NFL has been releasing tidbits about the schedule this week in anticipation of the full release on Thursday. Among the highlights:
The NFL confirmed that the Dolphins or Bills likely will play at Detroit on Thanksgiving...
On one occasion this season, ABC and ESPN will be permitted to carry different NFL games on Monday night. On Sept. 19, ESPN will air Buffalo-Tennessee at 7:15 p.m.., with ABC carrying Minnesota-Philadelphia at 8:30. Beginning in 2023, ABC and ESPN can carry different games on three Mondays per season...
Broncos-Rams will be a full national CBS game at 4:30 p.m. on Christmas, which is a Sunday this season. The NFL also plans to schedule a game in the early afternoon and one on Christmas night, opposing NBA games on ABC.
Most of the Christmas weekend games will be played on Saturday, Dec. 24.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 10:04 AM.
