Greg Olsen to call Super Bowl LVII for Fox as Tom Brady looms
On Feb. 12, 2023, Greg Olsen will call the biggest game of his young broadcasting career, Super Bowl LVII. And then he may get replaced by Tom Brady.
Fox Sports has reached an agreement with the former NFL tight end for him to call this season's Super Bowl alongside play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt in Glendale, Arizona, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. The deal reportedly has not yet been signed.
The Super Bowl gig is part of Burkhardt and Olsen's ascension to Fox's top NFL booth, which was made vacant earlier this offseason after ESPN poached Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for its main "Monday Night Football" broadcast. Olsen transitioned to broadcasting last season after 14 seasons in the NFL, earning positive reviews for the most part.
The promotion of Burkhardt and Olsen also created an opening for Fox's No. 2 booth. Marchand reports Joe Davis, who just got a promotion to the network's top baseball job, and Adam Amin are the favorites for that play-by-play job, while Drew Brees, who has reportedly left NBC after one season, is a candidate for color commentary.
All of this is just the latest in an eventful offseason in the broadcasting world. In addition to the ESPN and Fox moves, Amazon has also landed NBC's Al Michaels to call their new "Thursday Night Football" package alongside Kirk Herbstreit, pushing Mike Tirico into the play-by-play for "Sunday Night Football."
Of course, the central intrigue at Fox Sports isn't what will happen to its broadcasting booths this offseason.
When will Tom Brady enter Fox's NFL booth?
As you've probably heard, Fox has reached a deal with Brady on a 10-year, $375 million contract to join its booth as soon he officially retires (for real this time).
Given that Brady was ready to do so this offseason, that time could come next season, or it could be a few years from now because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is apparently immortal. Whenever that happens, you have to imagine Fox won't be paying him a $37.5 million salary to be its No. 2 color commentator, hence a potential demotion for Olsen.
One intriguing possibility Marchand presents is if the Buccaneers fail to make Super Bowl LVII this season. In that event, Marchand reports there is "a chance," Brady could join Burkhardt and Olsen in calling the big game. The future Hall of Famer could also do studio work in the postseason, as long as the Bucs are no longer playing.
It's hard to not feel like Brady handling the Super Bowl in his first season as a broadcaster wouldn't be a bit serendipitous.