Brady's broadcast debut was a tale of two halves - just like his QB days

Week 1 of the 2024 season marked a new chapter in the historic career of the best quarterback to ever play in the NFL: He officially made his TV debut from the broadcast booth at Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field.

"He's Tom Brady, and I'm Kevin Burkhardt," the play-by-play announcer declared on the FOX broadcast of the Cleveland Browns-Dallas Cowboys season opener on Sunday afternoon. He then addressed the new but familiar face beside him, the man who led the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl glory. "And you're a broadcaster, how about that?"

With a wide smile, Brady replied: "We're here. It's been quite a journey, but I love being your partner."

The seven-time Super Bowl champion signed a 10-year contract worth a whopping $375 million with FOX Sports in 2022, but he delayed his broadcast career by coming out of retirement to play with the Bucs for one more season.

Brady's inaugural broadcast mimicked his playing days. In a tale of two halves, he navigated the waves of calling his first game, a 33-17 win by the visiting Dallas Cowboys. His opening half felt like a discovery expedition, sussing out the challenges ahead, but his remarks in the second stanza came with more confidence and energy.

As he did during his playing days, Brady preached using a perfect approach to practice. According to one league source, Brady and Burkhardt ran through a full season's worth of mock games ahead of Brady's Sunday debut.

Still, there were early stretches in which Burkhardt covered plenty of ground without much feedback or interaction from his new partner. Brady's first mishap occurred during a play involving Browns receiver Amari Cooper, in which he incorrectly referred to Cooper as a defensive player. He also stumbled through his pronunciation of Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's name.

Perhaps the most awkward on-camera moment occurred when Brady attempted to fist-bump FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira. Periera didn't notice Brady's extended fist and left him hanging for a few seconds.

Brady's natural football instincts were apparent, though - particularly when he'd highlight the Dallas defense, which limited Cleveland to 2-of-15 on third downs. Maybe most impressively, Brady highlighted Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons' pre-snap alignment on the Telestrator moments before Parsons tipped a Deshaun Watson pass attempt in the air and into the hands of linebacker Eric Kendricks. He effectively used the Telestrator several times to highlight the game's biggest playmakers, including Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb, and Parsons.

With Brady replacing former All-Pro tight end Greg Olsen as the lead analyst on FOX's No. 1 team, we'll see whether FOX's big financial bet will translate into higher ratings in a sport that already dominates Nielsen audience measures.

Despite his GOAT status on the field, Brady frequently acknowledged his lack of familiarity in the booth.

"I do what they tell me. I'm still a rookie here. I'm wrong a lot," he said. "Ask my friends. There's plenty of things that I screw up. Believe me."

During the postgame show, host Curt Menefee asked his fellow panelists to identify their winner of the day. Michael Strahan selected the legendary quarterback. "I'm going to the person, not even on the field, but with probably even more press than anyone on the field - Tom Brady. Congratulations, Tom. Welcome to FOX. Got your first one under the belt, big boy. Who won the day? Tom Brady, for me."

Later, Brady let viewers in on a secret: Strahan offered him some insight ahead of his broadcast debut.

"I was using my arm and body for so many years. Now I get to a stadium and I get to use my voice," the 47-year-old said. "I might get out there tomorrow and throw some passes just to remember what it feels like. As Michael Strahan told me pregame, 'You're gonna wake up tomorrow morning and you ain't gonna be sore.' That I'm very happy about."

As the season progresses, we can expect Brady to develop chemistry with Burkhardt and find his groove in the booth. He'll need to navigate not having behind-the-scenes access typical for NFL broadcasters, though, as he awaits approval from the league to become a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. According to league sources, Brady isn't permitted to attend in-person or online broadcast production meetings, which usually involve coaches, players, and executives, and he is restricted from accessing any team facilities. FOX did not respond to a request for comment.

Still, Brady has a unique opportunity to shed light on his historic playing days, provide valuable insight, and relate all of those experiences to millions of viewers.

At the end of his first broadcast, Brady offered his closing thoughts, proving his excitement for his new opportunity and his admiration for the sport that's given him so much success. "It's great that the NFL season is underway," he said. "Great for the fans, great for everyone that loves football."

Josh Tolentino is theScore lead NFL writer