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Tom Brady expects a 'drastic improvement' in his Fox Sports work this season after finally coming to terms with a painful reality: his playing days are over.
The legendary quarterback divided opinion in his first year at Fox, where he is raking in $37.5million per annum for the next decade, as fans generally failed to warm to him in the commentary booth.
His minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders was also a topic of fierce controversy, with many calling for the network to fire him when he was barred from attending production meetings and team practices in the 2024 campaign.
However, the NFL has now given Brady the green light to be at production meetings over the coming season, which will allow him to pick up crucial nuggets of information to use on commentary.
Yet according to an insider, the seven-time Super Bowl winner believes his biggest flaw last year was acting on 'nostalgia' amid his desire to return to the field himself, which he now accepts is not going to materialize.
'He's ready for the season, last year was learning the craft, and he will continue to always learn,' a source told DailyMail.com.
Tom Brady expects a 'drastic improvement' in his Fox Sports work this season, says an insider
The legendary quarterback has finally accepted that his playing career is now over for good
'Last year, he still wanted to compete. He misses being on the field, and he sees that he was working on nostalgia last year, and this year he is going to dive in even more to be a broadcast journalist over a guy who still wants to play.
'He's dialed in and we will all see a drastic improvement from last year as he believes he did a good job last year, but he is looking to make this year a revelation.'
As well as gearing up for his second year as a commentator, Brady has also been working behind the scenes to ensure the Raiders enter the 2025 season in the strongest shape possible.
A revolution is underway in Las Vegas with the New England Patriots great pulling strings at board level, a new head coach at the helm in Pete Carroll and two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith at quarterback.
The latter pair have both arrived from Seattle. Smith was traded by the Seahawks to the Raiders in exchange for the 92nd overall pick at this year's draft, while Carroll, 73, left the senior-advisor position he dropped down to in 2024 to return to a head coaching job in Sin City.
Having not made the playoffs since 2021, Brady is confident that will change over the next four months.
Brady is juggling his role as a commentator for Fox with his minority ownership of the Raiders
'Tom expects Pete Carroll to change the culture in Vegas and he anticipates the team to be in the playoffs and to compete for a Super Bowl in the next few years,' the insider added.
'Tom only knows winning, and he didn't join the ownership of the team to have them lose.
'He expects them to be better and make the AFC West more than just a place that the Chiefs play in. Winning is the only option, and he will instill everything he can to make it work.
'There is no other option for Tom besides success.'
