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Greg Olsen spoke about getting replaced by Tom Brady
"What bothered me the most was how the story was covered."
After 23 seasons and one of the best careers in NFL history, long-time Patriots quarterback Tom Brady decided to get into broadcasting, signing a 10-year deal with Fox Sports in 2022.
This stirred up conversation among fans and commentators, with some wondering if he was able to get such a coveted television role right away because of his fame.
Brady was given Emmy-winning broadcaster and former tight end Greg Olsen’s position as the lead color commentary for Fox Sports. Having covered the Super Bowl in 2023, Olsen has been a fan-favorite and felt his pride hurt by being replaced.
“In the moment is your ego hit? Of course,” Olsen said about the situation on the “Never Settle“ podcast earlier in September.
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While Olsen was annoyed by the move, he has been open about not blaming Brady for anything. He was aware that circumstances might change when someone as popular as Brady comes into the industry.
“What bothered me the most was how the story was covered,” Olsen continued. “It was presented in a way that there was a personal animosity between me and Tom. I wanted Tom to do well.”
With all this going on, there was pressure on Brady to do well when he stepped into the role, and prove that he deserved it. Doubts remain about the answer to this, especially after an “uneven” commentary performance in last year’s Super Bowl.
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As well as having the personality for broadcasting, Olsen believes having played tight end offers a different perspective compared to playing quarterback.
“I try to make our broadcast,” Olsen stated last September. “When you’re watching it, you’re going to learn a little bit about the offensive line, you’re going to learn a little bit about coverage pressures, you’re going to learn a little bit about pass protection, but you’re still going to follow the ball and the quarterback because that’s critical to the game and the enjoyment of it.”
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