“Tom Brady is a Very, Very, Very Expensive Trophy…”: Former ESPN CEO Couldn’t Fathom The Rationale Behind Giving Brady a $375 Million Broadcast Deal

Not so long ago, network companies were on a spending spree. Trying to get their hands on lucrative faces that could potentially up their rating, broadcasting companies spent a combined total of $1 billion in 2022. And while most of them were a relatively understandable fee, one contract sent shockwaves through the NFL community: Fox’s $375 million contract with Tom Brady. John Skipper calls that a mistake.

The former ESPN CEO, who stepped down in 2017, appeared on ‘The Dan Le Batard Show’ in May 2022. When asked about the contract Fox gave Brady, he said, “There’s very little economic value. He’s a very, very, very expensive trophy…They do seem to have been bidding against themselves cause it is the only spot open, again, they’re buying a trophy.”

“I think he’ll probably be okay on the game. It doesn’t really matter that much other than for pride and I guess he’ll shake advertisers’ hands” he adds.“I would have said no. I don’t think that’s necessary, or a good use of $37.5 million. At about $100,000 a pop, we could have hired 370 employees for that.”

Skipper believes Fox could have made much more strategic and meaningful moves than pulling in a 45-year-old player with no broadcasting experience. “Seriously, for $375 million, you could have bought some live event rights, which would actually make a significant difference. [Brady] does not make significant difference other than pride and ambassadorship to put somebody in the booth for $37.5 million dollars.”

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Even with a guaranteed $375 million contract, Tom Brady kept playing ball

For many fans and analysts, it was a surprise when Tom Brady signed the mouth-watering deal with Fox. What surprised them even more, is Brady deciding to unretire and play another year, if not more, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He could have gone out on a high, having won a Super Bowl just a year ago. However, he decided to gamble everything and play on, and that cost him dearly.

Ever since his decision to unretire, things have been bad for him and the Buccaneers. His wife for 13 years, Gisele Bündchen, decided her and her husband’s paths and interests no longer aligned. Brady was also caught up in a cryptocurrency controversy, and his on-field performance has been less than impressive.

TB12’s on-field troubles meant the Bucs suffered, a lot. The Bucs are 8-8 and have only qualified for the playoffs because of poorer performances by their division rivals. However, regular season performances mean nothing in the playoff, and the Bucs are playing all their games at home. So this could be the opportunity they need to write the greatest comeback story of all time. Will it happen though?

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