FOX featured Michael Strahan, Erin Andrews, Rob Gronkowski and Charles Woodson in its Tom Brady recruitment tape before the NFL icon decided to join the network as its lead analyst
Tom Brady peaks
Tom Brady was lured to FOX by a pitch including his friends(Image: Getty Images)
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FOX knew exactly which influential football stars to sell to Tom Brady before the seven-time Super Bowl champion decided to join the network as its lead NFL analyst.
Fox Sports executives admitted to leaning on Michael Strahan, Erin Andrews, Rob Gronkowski and Charles Woodson during their first recruitment pitch to the seven-time Super Bowl champion. The simple concept was to remind Brady that he would be joining people he already knew and trusted.
The strategy worked and the ex- New England Patriots QB eventually signed a 10-year, $375 million deal to join the play-by-play booth with Kevin Burkhardt while Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi work the sidelines.
Speaking to Sports Business Journal, FOX Sports President and Executive Producer Brad Zager explained why the network deliberately built its presentation around recognizable stars.
"Stars like to be around stars," Zager said. He admitted to showing shots of Strahan, his beloved teammate Gronk, Charles Woodson, and Andrews throughout the Brady recruiting process.
Zager chose people Brady had known for years and felt comfortable around. The familiar roster is only part of a star-studded, loaded crop of talent in the booth, behind the analyst desk, and across social media.
The Fox Sports team poses for a photo before the 2025 NFC Championship Game
Brady has been at FOX since 2024
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Fox NFL Sunday features Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Strahan, Curt Menefee and Jay Glazer, while FOX NFL Kickoff includes Charissa Thompson, Woodson, Julian Edelman, Cooper Manning and Colin Cowherd.
Brady's transition to his new role has been anything but frictionless since his 2024 debut. The ex-NFL star has been criticized for awkward pauses and making overly vague references that fans believe insulted their intelligence.
NFL fans and the media have also questioned Brady's access and the restrictions attached to his role as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders' ownership. Brady also drew heat for his behavior during the NFL offseason involving Logan Paul and the WWE.
Logan Paul looks on as quarterback Tom Brady of the Founders FFC watches
Tom Brady and Logan Paul have crossed paths several times leading up to their "feud"(Image: Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for OBB Media - FANATICS STUDIOS)
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The NFL QB first mocked Paul's WWE athleticism as "cute," sparking trash talk at a celebrity flag football game in Saudi Arabia. Paul engaged and the pair met again during a middle finger exchange at the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
A staged onstage slap by Brady at Fanatics Fest strongly hinted at a future WWE crossover, as the company continues to feature cultural stars outside of wrestling.
USWNT star Megan Rapinoe questioned Brady's feud with Paul during an interview with Pablo Torre. She described his behavior as "bizarre," while Torre suggested that the staged feud could be tarnishing an otherwise shining blueprint for a post-football career.