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NFL Announcer Greg Olsen 'Hates' Common Broadcaster Phrase

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Nov 13, 2025 12:47 PM ET

Former Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen made it clear that he refuses to use certain expressions in FOX's broadcast booth.

Olsen joined FOX in 2021 following his retirement from the NFL. By February 2023, he had the privilege of calling Super Bowl LVII alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. Unfortunately for the talented broadcaster, his spot on the No. 1 broadcast crew was taken by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Despite being demoted at FOX, Olsen remains a fan favorite in the NFL community. A major reason for his popularity is the fact that he brings a fresh style to the broadcast booth.

For example, Olsen won't say "take the points" when a team is facing a tough fourth-down decision. In fact, he hates that phrase.

"I love game-winning field goals. I love strategic field goals. I don’t love field goals under the notion of, ‘take the points.' I hate the phrase ‘take the points.’ I hate when commentators say it, I hate when coaches say it, I hate when the media says it. I don’t know what ‘take the points means,’ it doesn’t make sense to me," Olsen said, via Awful Announcing.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 10: Former player Greg Olsen of the Carolina Panthers reacts during the football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)Mike Comer/Getty Images

Olsen's future at FOX.

Even though Olsen was replaced by Brady as the No. 1 commentator, he still plans on calling the top NFL games in the future.

"I still seek to go out and reach the highest levels of this profession and in no means does that mean that I want it to be at the expense of Tom [Brady]. And Tom wants to continue to ascend and achieve everything he wants, that doesn’t have to come at the expense of me," Olsen said. "My success is not contingent on Tom’s failure, and vice versa. I’m thankful for FOX, they believed in me… I want to be very crystal clear,” Olsen said. “Do I want to call top games? Of course. We all have aspirations to be as good as we possibly can, or else we’re wasting our time. That’s how I approach it and Tom and I’s personal and professional relationship, and my relationship with FOX, could not be healthier."

It's possible other networks, like Prime Video and NBC, will make a run at Olsen in the coming years.

For now though, Olsen is part of the No. 2 broadcast crew for FOX. On Sunday, he'll call an exciting NFC West showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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