• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Logan Ryan on Tom Brady Broadcast Pivot: ‘Never Been Done’

Brady drew mixed reviews in his first season on Fox after a legendary playing career. Ryan is optimistic about his trajectory.

Imagn Images

One of Tom Brady’s former teammates is bullish on his future as a broadcaster.

Logan Ryan joined Front Office Sports editor-in-chief Dan Roberts for the Portfolio Players series last week and was asked about the similarities and differences between succeeding on the football field as opposed to on TV. 

“Yeah, the two don’t have to coincide. What you need to do on TV isn’t exactly what you need to be great at football,” Ryan said. “You have to be able to process in football and understand to have success. On TV, that is similar, but you gotta get it out much quicker and you gotta be entertaining, and you can’t… there’s a lot of rules to it.”

Ryan, an 11-year NFL cornerback, played with Brady for four seasons in New England and one season in Tampa. He won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and, while on the Titans, intercepted Brady’s final pass as a Patriot.

Brady signed a 10-year deal with Fox Sports worth $375 million to be the network’s No. 1 color commentator after his retirement. He began the job last season with a considerable amount of pressure, given that he’d not only be replacing a popular broadcaster in Greg Olsen but that the first year in the booth culminated with the Super Bowl. 

On Portfolio Players, Ryan pointed out that players of Brady’s stature might do studio commentary, but you don’t see them vaulting into announcing booths to do play-by-play. 

“What Tom is doing, it’s never been done, having the GOAT of their sport commentate game to game,” Ryan said. “I don’t see Tiger Woods commentating The Masters. I don’t see Wayne Gretzky commentating hockey games week in and week out. I never saw Michael Jordan commentating 82 basketball games. We’ve never seen the greatest do that. We’ve seen guys do a halftime hit. You know, we might see Shaq and Chuck and those guys at halftime, but calling the games is a big leap because you’re up for so much scrutiny. You’re going to make a mistake in three hours of people listening to your voice.”

What Tony Romo accomplished, jumping straight from quarterback into the top CBS announcing spot, was rare. He came into the booth with infectious enthusiasm and caught on fire immediately by correctly predicting what plays teams like Brady’s Patriots would run on offense.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, had a learning curve in the booth with regard to delivering his thoughts in a consistent cadence during the tight window between plays. Prior to the Super Bowl, Brady insisted that he would be returning for a second year in the booth.

“I don’t know where it comes from. I know it always says ‘sources close to Brady,’ or whatever. But I’ve had the best time at Fox,” Brady told Colin Cowherd on FS1. “I’ve loved every time going into the booth and working with such great people, starting with my partner Kevin (Burkhardt).”

Having seen Brady’s work ethic in the football facility, Ryan is optimistic that Brady is on an upward trajectory in his new career.  

“I thought he got better throughout the year,” Ryan said. “I know everybody was blown away by his work ethic and just his personality. He’s a really good dude. So I think he got better. I enjoyed him doing the Super Bowl. And if I know Tom, I know he’s going to put the work in to improve.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up before the game between the Browns and the New Orleans Saints at FirstEnergy Stadium

Unearthed NFL Arbitration Ruling Raises More Questions Than Answers

The NFL was cleared of collusion, but new questions have emerged.

Tight End U Has Sponsors, Golf, and Taylor Swift. Travel Could Be..

The annual summit is hosted by Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Greg Olsen.
Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) before the play call against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the fourth quarter at Camping World Stadium.

College QBs Are the Newest VC Investors

Three Division I quarterbacks are investing in a venture fund.

Kenny Beecham’s ESPN NBA Draft Plan: ‘Friendship Packaged As Sports’

The influencer will host a different sort of ESPN show alongside Brian Windhorst.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
opinion

A 7-Step Playbook for Better NBA Finals TV Coverage

ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals was criticized on social media.
exclusive
June 21, 2025

Chip Caray Will Not be Suspended for Accidental Homophobic Slur: Sources

The verbal stumble was followed by over 30 seconds of silence.
June 23, 2025

Max Kellerman’s Post-ESPN Comeback Begins With Boxing

Kellerman was laid off from ESPN in 2023.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
exclusive
June 21, 2025

Lakers Reporter Dan Woike Leaves LA Times for The Athletic

Woike had been at the L.A. Times for eight years.
exclusive
June 20, 2025

Rachel DeMita Out at Big3 After Caitlin Clark Tweets During Game

DeMita joined Big3 last season.
exclusive
June 20, 2025

LeBron James’s Growing Amazon Ties Could Lead to Prime Role

James has praised Prime’s NBA talent hires for the 2025–26 season.
Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is introduced before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers in game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.
June 19, 2025

NBA Taking Cues From NBA Twitter in Restoring Finals Pageantry

The NBA and ESPN/ABC made several changes on the fly.