National Football League (NFL) star Tom Brady says he is feeling fulfilled these days as he begins to settle into his new gig as an announcer for Fox Sports.
Speaking to People magazine on Sept. 27, the 47-year-old said the transition from being on the field to now playing a role behind the scenes has been “really fun.”
The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback played his final NFL season in 2022, then took a much-needed break between retirement and his debut in the broadcast booth.
“For me, it was good to take some time off. I had been on this treadmill going at a fast speed for a long time, and I loved it. I loved every minute of playing, and at the same time, when I retired, I really enjoyed that too,” Brady said.
It did not last long however, as Brady kicked off his $375 million, 10-year deal with Fox Sports as an analyst during the broadcast of the regular-season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on Sept. 9.
“Now I’m back to work and I’m enjoying that, so I have no complaints,” he said. “Just like everybody else, I try to wake up and try to do my best for the people that matter the most to me. And when you commit to the people like I have in my broadcasting at Fox, I want to do a great job for them and my teammates there. So my life’s pretty full. I’m very happy.”
While on his new career path, life can get pretty hectic for Brady, but being a father to his three children is what he enjoys most.
“I do have a pretty full-time job now at broadcasting and still being a parent, and it’s a lot for all of us. We have our work life that we hopefully all enjoy, and then we get to go home and then we’ve got to put time in there,” he said.
Brady shares son John (“Jack”) with his ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan, and a son and daughter, Benjamin and Vivian, with his ex-wife, model Gisele Bündchen.
“I’m doing what I love doing, which is hanging out with my family and my kids, and obviously fulfilling my responsibilities at work,” he said.
Brady’s debut however, was met with both constructive criticism and praise from fans, like a rookie in his first game.
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital on Sept. 27, he acknowledged that he’s a work in progress and is “learning on the fly” but is enjoying every step of the way.
“You just got to give yourself a little grace and also understand there’s a lot of urgency to try to get it right,” he said.
“It’s never going to be perfect, but it’s just a great challenge, and I really enjoy being involved in the game and watching a lot of these young athletes go out there and play their hearts out and try to make a career for themselves.”
Aside from his love for football, Brady also supports causes that are important to him. He recently announced his partnership with Abbott, a medical device company, and the Big Ten Conference for their We Give Blood Drive.
“I’ve been giving blood since I was in high school and I heard about this recent blood shortage in the U.S. and figured out ways that we can create awareness around it,” he told People.
The drive also acts as a competition, where the school that generates the most blood donations during the 2024 football season will receive a $1 million donation to advance student and community health.
“It gives all these students at the schools an opportunity to do their part and give back where you can. We have opportunities every day to give back in different ways. It could be our time, our energy. In this case, making a blood donation can save a lot of lives. I think that’s a very important thing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Brady is making his return to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa this weekend, where he will be calling his first Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
