Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL Legend Tom Brady Sends Sad Message During Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jan 22, 2026 10:13 AM ET

Tom Brady retired after a 23-year NFL career widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history.

Playing for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he finished with seven Super Bowl titles, three league MVP awards and virtually every significant quarterback passing record, including the most career passing yards and touchdowns. His unprecedented longevity and success helped define the NFL for more than two decades, and his retirement marked the end of an era in professional football.

Since stepping away from playing, Brady has remained deeply involved in the sport. He became a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, taking on a limited partner role with the organization. At the same time, he transitioned to broadcasting, joining Fox Sports as a lead NFL analyst under a reported 10-year, $375 million contract, one of the most lucrative media deals for a former player.

Fox broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

In his second season as a broadcaster, Brady has drawn praise for his work in the booth, with producers noting his growth and comfort calling games as the season progressed.

On Thursday, Brady’s exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand offered an inside look at how he has evolved in his broadcasting role. The piece detailed the routines and preparations Brady undertakes with his Fox team, including film sessions and social time.

Reflecting on the close of the season, Brady described the mood among the crew:

“It will definitely be a little sad on Saturday night after our dinner, knowing that Sunday’s our last game of the year,” referring to the end of the 2025-26 broadcast season.

FEATURE: I spoke to Tom Brady about how he went from TMI to the TB12 method of preparation.

He's now one of the best NFL game TV analysts in the business.https://t.co/lpXrp9c6VX
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) January 22, 2026

Brady’s final assignment of the season will be Fox’s broadcast of the NFC Championship Game, when the Los Angeles Rams face the Seattle Seahawks with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line. The full Fox broadcast team, including Brady, will arrive in Seattle on Saturday to prepare, and he is expected to have a detailed game plan ready for the crew, per Marchand.

The game is set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox, where Brady will again apply his deep knowledge of the sport to his commentary during one of the NFL’s most important broadcasts of the year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: