Tom Brady stepped into the broadcasting booth for the third NFL game of his budding media career on Sunday, calling the Week 3 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. The game took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the Ravens jumped out to an early lead but nearly let it slip away before ultimately securing a 28-25 victory.
The win improved Baltimore’s record to 1-2, while Dallas dropped to 1-2 after back-to-back home losses to the Saints and the Ravens.
As Brady transitions from the field to the booth, his early forays into broadcasting have been met with a mix of praise and criticism. Despite his growing presence as an analyst, not everyone is enamored with his performance—particularly when it comes to his voice.
Longtime ESPN reporter Don Van Natta shared his candid thoughts on Brady’s broadcasting style, focusing on what he sees as the quarterback’s Achilles heel: his voice. “Tom Brady’s problem—and ours—is his voice,” Van Natta wrote. “No matter how much his commentary might improve, Brady’s delivery system teeters between mildly annoying to nails-on-a-chalkboard.”
Van Natta’s critique didn’t stop there. He pointed out that Brady’s voice is in stark contrast to that of his broadcasting partner, Kevin Burkhardt, whose deep, authoritative tone is well-suited for the booth. “It doesn’t help he’s paired with Kevin Burkhardt, whose magisterial voice is made for a microphone,” Van Natta added.
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Brady’s cadence, inflection, and overall energy are areas that Van Natta believes need improvement. Unlike Tony Romo, who brings an energetic, excitable style to his broadcasts, or Cris Collinsworth’s smooth, insightful analysis, Brady’s delivery lacks the same dynamic flair.
And when compared to the booming, authoritative voices of seasoned broadcasters like Troy Aikman or Greg Olsen, Brady’s more subdued style stands out even more.
Still, calling Brady’s voice “nails on a chalkboard” seems a bit harsh. While it’s true that Brady is still finding his footing in the booth, many viewers have been more forgiving, recognizing that broadcasting requires a different skill set than playing quarterback. Brady has shown the potential to grow into his role, offering insightful commentary based on his wealth of football knowledge. But perfecting his delivery and style will likely take time.
As Brady’s career in broadcasting progresses, the seven-time Super Bowl champion will undoubtedly continue to refine his approach. He’ll return to the booth for Week 4, calling the game in Tampa Bay—where he spent the final years of his storied playing career—for FOX.
With time and experience, Brady could very well become a standout analyst, but for now, critics like Van Natta will keep a close ear on his progress.
After all, even the greatest quarterbacks sometimes need a bit of practice in their new roles.
