With the season on the line, Tom Brady wasn’t just handed a $375 million broadcasting deal—he stepped into it like it was third-and-ten. He was given the keys to Fox Sports’ No. 1 NFL analyst spot, so the expectations were obviously less ‘rookie broadcaster’ and more ‘GOAT in a headset.’ Even while the seven-time Super Bowl champion humbly refers to his first season in the booth as “a very positive challenge,” the intensity he has brought to this second act is anything but mellow.

Brady acknowledged that there has been a learning curve. After all, a microphone isn’t a huddle. But what matters to the GOAT? Being the best at what he does, even when the criticism is high. And maintaining that locker room edge—yes, even when wearing a suit and tie. Before announcing Super Bowl LIX, Brady remarked, “You’re never going to please everybody. You just have to believe in yourself.” So, it should come as no surprise that criticism just makes him more ruthless, whether it comes from fans, commentators, or social media side-eyes. He became a legend in the sixth round thanks to that same chip. And as one former teammate just made very obvious, that chip is still alive and well.

Jason McCourty, a former Patriots defensive back, lit the match on Brady’s still-burning fire on the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams. Adams asked, “What does booing do to Tom Brady?” And McCourty answered without hesitation, “We all know the answer to that—he’s a psycho when it comes to stuff like that. It has to fire him up.” Then he threw in a scene straight out of a football war movie. The year? 2019. And Brady skipped the offseason program. But he showed up for the mandatory mini-camp and immediately fired up the defense. “Our defense were first in the NFL throughout the course of that year,” McCourty recalled. “Brady would be on one side of the field as we were doing team drills and our defense…we’re cursing each other out of the entire defensive sideline.”

Brady turned the minicamp into a battleground with his energy, exchanging blows with McCourty, Jamie Collins, and Dont’a Hightower—all legends in their own right. But Brady didn’t hesitate. He was creating chaos by luring one of the best units in the league into trash talk to bring that game day energy on the field. Jason said, “Everybody’s just cursing each other out, going back and forth. And that’s the level of competitiveness he would bring every single day to practice, and I can’t imagine it’s any different for him now at Fox Sports.”

And Kay Adams summed up the Brady mindset perfectly: “Even criticism in the booth—I feel like he loves that. It fuels him.” So, even though Tom Brady is now receiving Emmys and broadcasting honors and not MVP trophies, his attitude hasn’t changed. The locker room mindset is still deeply rooted in him, and that’s exactly how he is dealing with his broadcasting job.

As Tom Brady basks in Fox Sports glory, Rob Gronkowski can’t resist one last jab

While Tom Brady is busy honing his storytelling skills on-air, his long-time partner Rob Gronkowski is making sure no one at FOX Sports takes themselves too seriously. Recently, Lady Gaga’s tribute to New Orleans during Fox Sports’ Super Bowl LIX segment earned them an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction. Co-hosted by Brady and Michael Strahan, the occasion was solemn, impactful, and nationally noteworthy.

But Gronk appeared with the digital equivalent of a damp towel on Instagram right when the corks were popping. Gronk added under Fox’s celebratory Emmy post, “@jayglazer looking small behind Tom and Stray. Must be the camera angle.” Ever the good sport, Jay Glazer retorted, “That’s exactly what it was. Thanks for putting respect on my name.”

In case you were wondering, yes, the Fox crew does engage in this type of banter regularly. In 2024, Gronk was convinced to examine a fictitious tight end named ‘Rich Russo’ on live television by this same crew. His response? “Guys, I’ve never heard of Rich Russo in my life,” he said in confusion.

So, Tom Brady and his old teammates are making it very evident through their mini-camp trash talk and Emmy night comments that while retirement may have altered their uniforms, the fire still burns hot. And in Brady’s case, that fire is now reaching millions of people, one call at a time, meticulously planned and brutally honest.