On May 20, Fox Sports snagged the Outstanding Music Direction Emmy for their Super Bowl LIX segment, which featured Lady Gaga performing Hold My Hand to honor the victims of the January 1 New Orleans terror attack. Tom Brady and Michael Strahan introduced the segment. So, no wonder the piece struck a national chord.
As producer Brad Zager said, “We knew we needed to use the power of our platform at the Super Bowl to show the world that everything in New Orleans was okay.” It worked.
The moment itself was somber, stirring, spotlighted by Gaga’s stripped-down vocals and first responders as backup. It wasn’t your average NFL pregame package. It was part tribute, part time capsule. But for Brady, this Emmy win felt like validation. Especially after all the eyes had been on him in his rookie season with Fox Sports. The debut that the fans were eyeing and then debated a lot about. But as the 2024 season drew the curtains, it was less about “Tom the rookie broadcaster” and more “Tom the storyteller.”
However, just as the digital confetti fell on Instagram… well, Rob Gronkowski showed up. Because, of course, he did. Under Fox’s official Emmy post, Gronk dropped this banter: “@jayglazer looking small behind Tom and Stray. Must be the camera angle.” Glazer, unfazed, fired back: “That’s exactly what it was. Thanks for putting respect on my name.”
If you’re wondering whether these two go at it often… Absolutely! Their onscreen chemistry is pure locker room energy. Case in point: remember the “Rich Russo” prank from September 2024? Glazer and the FOX NFL Sunday crew convinced Gronk that Dallas was activating a fictional tight end. The bit played out on live TV, with Gronk nervously analyzing a player who didn’t exist. His reaction? Pure gold: “Guys, I’ve never heard of Rich Russo in my life.”
So, while Gaga moved hearts and Brady added another ring with Strahan—err, Emmy—Gronk found a way to squeeze in a jab. If anything, it speaks a lot about the Fox crew’s chemistry. Maybe that work culture has what attracted Tom Brady in the first place, and, obviously, that huge paycheck ($350 million over 10 years).
Tom Brady receives his 2025 schedule
The wait is over. Fox has dropped its 2025 ‘America’s Game of the Week’ slate and, as you’d expect, Tom Brady’s back behind the mic. No breaks. No half-measures. Just 11 high-stakes matchups for the GOAT to narrate, which begins with a Week 2 banger: Eagles vs. Chiefs. A rematch of Super Bowl LIX. The same game Brady called just a few months ago. So, if you’re wondering whether the booth gig’s growing on him, here’s your answer: it’s go time.
Meanwhile, Brady and Kevin Burkhardt are scheduled to call some of the most headline-heavy games of the year. That includes Eagles-Cowboys in Week 12, a Lions–Commanders clash in Week 10 (yes, the same Commanders who stunned Detroit in the playoffs), and a sneaky-good Week 14 bout: Bengals vs. Bills.
The Eagles are clearly Fox’s darlings this season. They’re in three of the 11 national broadcasts. But don’t get it twisted—Detroit and Dallas lead the way with four ‘America’s Game of the Week’ slots each. The Lions earned it. After going 15-2 last season and still falling short in the divisional round, they’re not just a good team—they’re good TV. The Cowboys, well, they’re the Cowboys. And with Dak back and George Pickens now in the mix with CeeDee Lamb, they’ll stay on the marquee regardless of last year’s 7-10 flop.
Now, about Brady’s gig, it’s not a cameo run post-retirement. As Fox director Rich Russo said earlier this year, “I see no reason why he wouldn’t do all nine more years—maybe even longer.” Tom’s sticking around. He’s got a schedule. He’s got a groove. And apparently, he’s got the second act figured out better than most.
So, when you tune in this fall and hear that voice break down a coverage shift or a busted protection, just remember, this was never about a victory lap. This is Brady’s new grind.
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