Tom Brady Boosts Fox's NFL Ratings to 4-Year High

Tom Brady’s initial appearance as a Fox Sports broadcaster since he became a brand ambassador has shot the network further back into its best ratings for a week one game in four years. The superstar’s first stint on an analyst’s chair after retiring from the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aired during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns, whom he assisted Kevin Burkhardt.

The broadcast recorded an impressive 23.9 million, a growth of 47%, with the previous year’s opening week of 16.2 million. The match, part of "America’s Game of the Week" on Fox, was not the only winning tale for the network.

The twin bill, followed by several regional games telecast the previous afternoon, pulled in 18.6 million viewers. This marks a 40% rise from last year’s numbers, thus making this year’s season opener the best the network has had in four years since the commencement of the NFL season.

Brady's Broadcasting Milestone

This year had an exceptional advantage for Fox; it did not have to compete against CBS, which covered the last four seasons with simultaneous doubleheaders. After Sunday's games, Burkhardt welcomed Brady's move from the surface to the box and was excited about working together.

"We’re here. It’s been quite a journey but I love being your partner," said Brady in what could easily be a transition to his new broadcasting career, demarcating himself. Skeptics have doubtful concerns about Brady’s first experience behind a TV set.

"This is a hard job, and we all do our piece of it," Buck said on The Michael Kay Show on Monday. "We all have to be able to settle in; know what you need to know. I talked to him on Friday, and I don't think anybody's put in more work into being prepared for his first broadcast than Tom did.

And now, you have to go forward and settle in. It's grossly unfair that everybody wants to weigh in after five seconds. That's not the way it works."