Columnist shares 'radical' solution for Fox's Tom Brady, Greg Olsen conundrum

One of the most discussed sports stories of the opening month of 2024 involves how Fox will handle Tom Brady joining the network presumably to replace fan-favorite lead NFL analyst Greg Olsen beginning next season. 

Barrett Sports Media and Barrett News Media editor Garrett Searight suggested on Wednesday that Fox could have Brady serve in a role similar to those occupied by rules analysts who are available to comment on any game at any time during NFL Sundays. 

"(Carolina Panthers quarterback) Bryce Young just threw his second interception of the game," Searight wrote about a potential scenario on a Sunday afternoon. "Horrible decision. Bad throw. Whatever. We can get the perspective of Mark Schlereth, Jonathan Vilma, or Robert Smith or you can hear Adam Amin/Chris Myers/Kenny Albert say, 'Let’s go to our Florida studios and get the perspective of Tom Brady, the greatest to ever play the position. Tom, what did you see there from Young and why did he miss that throw?'" 

It's an idea Fox could consider for multiple reasons. While some think that Brady, Olsen and lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt could share the network's main booth for even one season, NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports recently poured cold water over the idea. There is a concern Olsen may "outshine" the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who reportedly is set to earn $375M from Fox via a 10-year deal. Add in that it was hinted last spring that Brady may not want to "travel that much" to work as a full-time in-booth analyst, and Fox letting the 46-year-old break into games from an at-home studio could make sense. 

Searight's plan would also prevent Olsen from seeking a lead analyst job elsewhere as soon as 2025 because the former tight end and Burkhardt would remain full-time partners who would only occasionally hear from Brady during games. 

"Some broadcasts employ special team experts like Jay Feely or previously with Steve Tasker," Searight noted. "Some even now have doctors on call for injury analysis. Why not use the greatest person to play the most important position in the game to your advantage in the same way?" 

Fans posting on social media have made it clear they want to hear Olsen call the biggest games. Perhaps Fox could utilize Searight's idea during the regular season but embrace a three-man booth for the playoffs and the Super Bowl. 

Whatever Fox executives decide, it's clear the Olsen-Brady conundrum is going to hover over the network up through and possibly beyond Super Bowl LVIII.