Tom Brady is finally returning to Foxborough for the first time as a broadcaster, stepping into the booth with Kevin Burkhardt this Sunday to call the Patriots versus Packers game. It’s wild to think it’s been six years since he bolted for Tampa Bay, and now he’s back, but with a microphone instead of a helmet.
The Long-Awaited Return and The Bias Challenge
Brady’s no stranger to Gillette Stadium since leaving in 2020. He played against the Patriots in 2021, then the team honored him in 2023. But this weekend? It’s different. He’s gotta make sure no bias peeks through when he’s behind that mic. Seriously, how do you call a game objectively for the team where you spent the bulk of your legendary career?
Fans have been circling this weekend for a minute, especially since Rob Gronkowski’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction is happening on Saturday. You gotta imagine Brady will be there, soaking it all in, before hitting the broadcast booth the very next day. Fox even dropped a video teasing his return. So, why did it take two years for Brady to call a game involving his old team? The simple truth is Fox usually handles NFC games, while CBS covers the AFC. While that rule isn’t ironclad anymore, it’s still pretty rare for the Patriots to land a premier slot on Fox. Brady and Burkhardt are Fox’s top crew, so they need a top-tier matchup.
From “Worst Team” to Super Bowl Contender: How the Patriots Earned the Call
Here’s the real kicker, and what makes this Sunday so interesting: The Patriots were among the NFL’s worst teams back in 2024. Yeah, I said it. Because of that, they didn’t have a single “game of the week” broadcast until 2025. Even then, it wasn’t clear they were a serious AFC contender until a few weeks into that season.
But then, things shifted. The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl last season! That changes everything for broadcast scheduling, right? Suddenly, there are way more eyes on the Patriots. Combine that increased viewership with the Packers, an NFC squad, visiting Foxborough, and boom: Sunday’s game becomes the absolute ideal pick for Fox’s top game of the week. It took their return to prominence to get their most iconic player back in the building as a broadcaster.
So, this Sunday isn’t just about the game itself, it’s about Brady navigating his first Patriots call after years away, and after a surprise Super Bowl run that finally put them back on the national radar. You know everyone’s gonna be tuned in to see how he does.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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