Earlier this year, Tom Brady joked about un-retiring from the NFL yet again, and in a way, he has. The former Patriots quarterback signed a 10-year deal with Fox Sports in May 2022 — a year before he actually quit the NFL as a player for good — and is now stepping into his role as the network’s lead NFL analyst.
Commercials for his new position feature Brady walking along the sideline as crew members glance at him. Psyching himself up for the role, Brady imagines hearing doubts from the crew and passersby, responding with, “disrespect is a gift,” suggesting the doubters are pushing him to be his best. And in order to be the best, it seems like Brady is looking to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce for guidance in his new role.
Kelce, who, for those who somehow are unaware, has been dating Taylor Swift since July 2023. Even before his world-famous romance started, his podcast, New Heights, co-hosted with his brother Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles, was wildly popular. He’s also making waves with his role in Ryan Murphy’s horror series Grotesquerie, and has more acting projects lined up, like the buddy film Loose Cannons and a cameo in Happy Gilmore 2.
Despite juggling numerous projects, Kelce keeps his relationship with Swift thriving — a stark contrast to Tom Brady’s struggles to do the same, which played a significant role in his split from Gisele Bündchen. “You gotta hand it to Tom — he knows when he needs help and he knows exactly where to go to ask for it,” an insider told OK Magazine about Brady reaching out to Kelce.
“The goal in Tom’s first year on the air at Fox is to not embarrass himself and to not blow the handful of very big blockbuster games he’ll be broadcasting this year. Nobody is pretending there isn’t a steep learning curve when it comes to getting good on the air, live in front of millions of fans,” the source added.
The insider further explained that Brady, 47, sought guidance from Kelce, 35, because of Kelce’s “years of podcasting under his belt.” “He’s gently quizzed Travis for tips on how to be quick on his feet and keep the commentary exciting for fans,” the source revealed, emphasizing the importance of showmanship in broadcasting. “He’s definitely going into this process with eyes wide open and his heart on his sleeve, for better or worse,” the source concluded.
Whether or not Kelce’s advice helps Brady remains to be seen, but when it comes to new challenges, having Kelce in his corner could be just what Brady needs to succeed in front of the camera.