The NFL on Fox hasn't looked this different in decades. If you tuned into a game recently and felt like the chairs had been rearranged while you were in the kitchen getting a snack, you aren't alone. Fox basically took a sledgehammer to a broadcast hierarchy that had been settled for years.
Honestly, it’s about more than just one retired quarterback.
When Tom Brady finally put down the helmet and picked up the headset, it triggered a domino effect that sent shockwaves from the A-team all the way down to the regional crews. It’s a massive gamble. We are talking about a $375 million investment in a guy who had never called a live game before 2024. But as we move deeper into the 2025-2026 cycle, the dust is starting to settle, and the "new normal" at Fox Sports is looking a lot different than the Joe Buck and Troy Aikman era we grew up with.
💡 You might also like: The 2008 Michigan Wolverines Football Season: What Really Happened During the Ann Arbor Meltdown
The Tom Brady Effect and the Demotion of Greg Olsen
Let’s be real. The biggest "victim"—if you can call a guy making millions of dollars a victim—of the Fox NFL announcing shakeup was Greg Olsen.
For two years, Olsen was the darling of sports media. He was insightful. He was energetic. Most importantly, he actually explained why a play worked instead of just shouting "Wow!" after a touchdown. Fans loved him. Critics loved him. He even won an Emmy. And then, he got bumped.
- The No. 1 Team: Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady (with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi).
- The No. 2 Team: Joe Davis and Greg Olsen (with Pam Oliver).
It’s a weird vibe, right? You have arguably the best color analyst in the business, Olsen, sitting in the number two chair because the network had to justify the massive check they wrote to No. 12. Brady's debut season in 2024 was... let’s call it a work in progress. He was a bit stiff early on. He spoke in platitudes. But by the time Super Bowl LIX rolled around in February 2025, he started to find his rhythm.
By the start of the 2025 season, the improvement was actually noticeable. Even Brady's mom noticed he was doing better, which he joked about in a recent interview. He’s more natural now. He’s shorter with his points. He isn't trying to be Tony Romo; he’s trying to be the guy who knows exactly what the safety is thinking before the ball is snapped.
Still, seeing Olsen relegated to the second-tier games feels like having a Ferrari in the garage and driving the Honda to the gala. Olsen has been a pro about it, though. He’s gone on record saying there are no hard feelings, but he’s also made it clear he wants to be a lead dog again. Don’t be surprised if another network tries to poach him when their contracts are up.
The End of an Era: Jimmy Johnson Walks Away
While the booth was getting a facelift, the studio show—the legendary Fox NFL Sunday—faced its own identity crisis. For the first time since 2008, the core four of Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, and Jimmy Johnson has been broken up.
Jimmy Johnson retired.
The two-time Super Bowl-winning coach finally decided to hang up the blazer after Super Bowl LIX. He’s 82. He’s earned the right to sit on his boat in the Florida Keys. But replacing a guy who has been the "adult in the room" (sorta) for nearly 30 years isn't easy.
💡 You might also like: Why the Alabama Walk of Champions Still Gives Fans Chills
Fox didn't look far for his replacement. They went with the guy who was already hanging around the set: Rob Gronkowski.
The dynamic has shifted. It’s less "venerable coach gives wisdom" and more "chaos in a suit." Gronk is now a full-time member of the Sunday crew alongside Curt Menefee, Bradshaw, Long, and Strahan. It’s louder. It’s younger. It’s definitely more unpredictable. Whether that’s a good thing depends on if you like your pregame analysis with a side of "Yo soy fiesta."
Technology and the New "Command Center"
Fox didn't just change the people; they changed the room. For the 2025 season, the network debuted a brand-new studio that looks like something out of a Marvel movie.
They’re calling it the most advanced sports set in the world.
It’s got:
- 54 million LED lights (yes, really).
- 40 real-time render engines.
- 8 tracked cameras.
- XR/AR technology that can make the studio look like any stadium in the NFL.
If the Cowboys are playing in AT&T Stadium, the studio background literally mimics the architecture and lighting of Arlington. It’s immersive. It’s also a way to keep viewers from flipping to RedZone during the pregame lulls.
The Regional Shuffle: Who is Where?
Beyond the Brady-Olsen-Gronk headlines, the rest of the broadcast roster saw some tactical movement. Fox has always prided itself on consistency, but the Fox NFL announcing shakeup required some internal promotions.
Kenny Albert remains the iron man of the network. Entering his 32nd season in 2025, he’s still paired with Jonathan Vilma. This duo has become the "reliable old shoe" for Fox—you know exactly what you’re getting. High energy, solid X’s and O’s from Vilma, and Kenny’s classic "He’s got it!"
💡 You might also like: Adam Scott WITB 2025: The Putter Crisis and the Blade Revolution
Adam Amin and Mark Sanchez have also solidified their spot as the "fun" crew. Sanchez has really leaned into the "Sanchize" persona, bringing a lot of humor to the booth that reminds people of a younger, more controlled John Madden.
One minor but interesting change for 2025: reporter Allison Williams moved over from the college football sidelines to join Kevin Kugler and Daryl "Moose" Johnston. It’s a small tweak, but it shows Fox is looking to integrate their top-tier college talent into the Sunday rotation.
Why This Matters for the Fans
You might ask why you should care who is talking while you’re eating wings. The answer is Super Bowl rotation.
Fox is now in a cycle where they have the Big Game every few years. The Fox NFL announcing shakeup wasn't just about Week 1 of the regular season. It was about building a "Big Event" brand. When Tom Brady is the one talking during the Super Bowl, it brings in non-football fans. It brings in the "Swiftie" equivalent of the NFL—people who follow the celebrity of the sport as much as the score.
Fox is betting that Brady’s star power outweighs Olsen’s technical perfection. It’s a business move.
The Challenges Ahead
It’s not all sunshine and high ratings, though. Brady still faces criticism for his dual role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The "Brady Rules" are still a thing. He can’t go into other teams' facilities. He can’t attend certain production meetings in person.
This creates a weird information gap. While Joe Buck or Jim Nantz can sit down with a coach on Friday and get the "real" scoop, Brady has to do it virtually or off-site. Some fans think this makes his analysis less "inside" than it should be.
What You Should Watch For Next
If you want to get the most out of the new Fox experience, keep an eye on these specific shifts during the next few broadcasts:
- The Brady-Olsen Comparison: Watch a 4:25 PM ET game with Brady, then catch the highlights of Olsen’s 1:00 PM ET game. Notice the difference in how they describe the "pocket." Brady talks about it like a chess match; Olsen talks about it like a street fight.
- The Gronk Factor: Pay attention to how the studio veterans like Howie Long react to Gronkowski. There’s a visible "passing of the torch" happening where the old-school 90s toughness is meeting the new-school 2020s personality.
- The Visuals: Look at the studio floor during Fox NFL Sunday. The AR graphics are now so integrated that players look like they are standing right on the set with the hosts.
The Fox NFL announcing shakeup is finally complete, but the repercussions will last for a decade. Fox has hitched its wagon to the GOAT. Whether that wagon stays on the tracks or loses a wheel depends entirely on how much "TV Brady" can live up to "Seven-Ring Brady."
To stay ahead of the next round of changes, check your local listings for "America's Game of the Week," as that's where the new tech and top-tier talent are showcased most aggressively. Pay close attention to the Week 17 and playoff assignments, as these often signal who the network is prepping for future promotions.