Greg Olsen continues to prove why many NFL fans and analysts still consider him one of the best voices in the booth. The former Pro Bowl tight end has been nominated for his fourth straight Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Event Analyst.
This recognition comes nearly three years after Fox Sports officially bumped him from its lead NFL broadcast team in favor of NFL megastar Tom Brady.
Tom Brady’s Big-Money NFL Booth Debut Season Falls Flat as Greg Olsen’s Star Continues to Rise
Olsen took to X to share his excitement after the nominees were announced on April 8. “Honored to be nominated for my 4th consecutive @TheEmmys. Congrats to everyone nominated. Some big time names!!”
Honored to be nominated for my 4th consecutive @TheEmmys 🏆🏆
Congrats to everyone nominated. Some big time names!!@NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/MdBkU1Nidn
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) April 8, 2025
Fox activated a massive 10-year, $375 million contract with Brady, signed in 2022 but delayed until his post-retirement debut.
Brady took over Olsen’s top analyst role and now works alongside veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. The move marked a significant shift in Fox’s NFL coverage, replacing the Emmy-nominated Olsen, who had become a fan favorite since transitioning to broadcasting after his retirement from the league in 2021.
Brady’s long-awaited debut as Fox’s lead NFL analyst came on Sept. 8, 2024, during the regular season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns. Fans and analysts criticized his debut — and games that followed — for lacking energy, personality, and spontaneity. His football knowledge was never doubted, of course, but many felt his commentary missed the clarity and relatable breakdowns that had become Olsen’s trademark.
Critics said Brady often sounded stiff and overly scripted, with little in-game insight or storytelling to elevate the broadcast. The general feeling was that, despite his legendary playing career, Brady’s style didn’t immediately translate to the booth — especially when compared to Olsen’s natural on-air presence and chemistry with Burkhardt.
Olsen’s Emmy Nod Reignites Debate on Fox’s Brady Bet
Olsen’s latest Emmy nomination has reignited the debate that started when Fox made the controversial decision to move him to the No. 2 team. That move came with a significant pay cut, dropping his salary from $10 million to $3 million annually.
In January, Olsen opened up about being replaced by Brady on the Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl broadcast.
“I’ll be honest, it’s hard sitting home on the couch watching the games. And you know you’re sitting there, and you’re living and dying with every broadcast, and you’re sitting there, and you’re dissecting everything that’s said and done. What would you have said, and what would you have done?”
Olsen made it clear that he’s not satisfied with just a regional audience. “Listen, I’ve been very honest. My goal getting into this was to not just call regional 1:00 games and just be happy to be there.
“I’ve called the highest games, we’ve called some of the biggest games in NFL history, some of the biggest audiences in NFL history, Super Bowls. To not do it anymore is hard, it’s not ideal.”
Unlike Brady, Olsen had to earn his top spot the hard way. After retiring in 2021, he climbed quickly to the No. 1 booth with sharp analysis, relatable player insight, and strong chemistry with Burkhardt. His efforts have been repeatedly recognized with Emmy nominations, and this latest nod only adds fuel to the argument that Fox may have jumped the gun in handing the keys to Brady.
Adding to the conversation is that Brady wasn’t among this year’s nominees. Instead, the list featured familiar broadcasting names like Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, Bill Raftery (college basketball), and John Smoltz (MLB) — but not the seven-time Super Bowl champion.