Greg Olsen continues to show why many NFL followers and analysts nonetheless contemplate him top-of-the-line voices within the sales space. The previous Professional Bowl tight finish has been nominated for his fourth straight Sports activities Emmy Award for Excellent Occasion Analyst.
This recognition comes almost three years after Fox Sports activities formally bumped him from its lead NFL broadcast workforce in favor of NFL megastar Tom Brady.
Tom Brady’s Huge-Cash NFL Sales space Debut Season Falls Flat as Greg Olsen’s Star Continues to Rise
Olsen took to X to share his pleasure after the nominees have been introduced on April 8. “Honored to be nominated for my 4th consecutive @TheEmmys. Congrats to everybody nominated. Some large time names!!”
Honored to be nominated for my 4th consecutive @TheEmmys 🏆🏆
Congrats to everybody nominated. Some large time names!!@NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/MdBkU1Nidn
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) April 8, 2025
Fox activated an enormous 10-year, $375 million contract with Brady, signed in 2022 however delayed till his post-retirement debut.
Brady took over Olsen’s high analyst position and now works alongside veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. The transfer marked a major shift in Fox’s NFL protection, changing the Emmy-nominated Olsen, who had grow to be a fan favourite since transitioning to broadcasting after his retirement from the league in 2021.
Brady’s long-awaited debut as Fox’s lead NFL analyst got here on Sept. 8, 2024, in the course of the common season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns. Followers and analysts criticized his debut — and video games that adopted — for missing vitality, character, and spontaneity. His soccer data was by no means doubted, in fact, however many felt his commentary missed the readability and relatable breakdowns that had grow to be Olsen’s trademark.
Critics mentioned Brady typically sounded stiff and overly scripted, with little in-game perception or storytelling to raise the printed. The final feeling was that, regardless of his legendary enjoying profession, Brady’s type didn’t instantly translate to the sales space — particularly when in comparison with Olsen’s pure on-air presence and chemistry with Burkhardt.
Olsen’s Emmy Nod Reignites Debate on Fox’s Brady Guess
Olsen’s newest Emmy nomination has reignited the talk that began when Fox made the controversial resolution to maneuver him to the No. 2 workforce. That transfer got here with a major pay lower, dropping his wage from $10 million to $3 million yearly.
In January, Olsen opened up about being changed by Brady on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles Tremendous Bowl broadcast.
“I’ll be trustworthy, it’s exhausting sitting dwelling on the sofa watching the video games. And you already know you’re sitting there, and also you’re dwelling and dying with each broadcast, and also you’re sitting there, and also you’re dissecting all the things that’s mentioned and completed. What would you will have mentioned, and what would you will have completed?”
Olsen made it clear that he’s not glad with only a regional viewers. “Hear, I’ve been very trustworthy. My objective stepping into this was to not simply name regional 1:00 video games and simply be joyful to be there.
“I’ve referred to as the very best video games, we’ve referred to as among the greatest video games in NFL historical past, among the greatest audiences in NFL historical past, Tremendous Bowls. To not do it anymore is difficult, it’s not preferrred.”
Not like Brady, Olsen needed to earn his high spot the exhausting means. After retiring in 2021, he climbed rapidly to the No. 1 sales space with sharp evaluation, relatable participant perception, and powerful chemistry with Burkhardt. His efforts have been repeatedly acknowledged with Emmy nominations, and this newest nod solely provides gasoline to the argument that Fox could have jumped the gun in handing the keys to Brady.
Including to the dialog is that Brady wasn’t amongst this 12 months’s nominees. As an alternative, the checklist featured acquainted broadcasting names like Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, Invoice Raftery (faculty basketball), and John Smoltz (MLB) — however not the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion.
