Joe Buck isn’t betting against anything when it comes to Tom Brady and his career path.
Brady, who agreed to a monster 10-year, $375 million contract, is expected to debut next to Buck as an analyst on Fox’s top NFL broadcast team for the Cowboys-Browns game Week 1, replacing Greg Olsen this season.
But the longtime NFL voice isn’t ruling out a potential curveball when it comes Brady sticking around in the booth.
Buck, 55, was interviewed on Thursday by Chris O’Gorman of the new not-for-profit company “Questions for Cancer Research” and was asked about the possibility of the 47-year-old Brady unretiring for a second time to return to the field at some point.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, teased just that back in April, saying he was “not opposed” to the idea put a uniform on again.
Buck refused to close the door as well.
“I would never bet against him,” Buck said during the interview. “I feel like he said that with a kind of twinkle in his eye. I don’t know him very well at all but I think that would be a stretch. But if there is anybody who could do it, I would say it’s him. If there is anybody who’s going to stay in shape so he could do it, I would say it would be him.
“Would I be floored if it happened or if he came back and somehow guided a team into a postseason? No. Because I think he knows with his savvy and his mind and his experience where to go with the ball, when to go with the ball, and could get through a game maybe if he was 60.”
He does believe it would take a special scenario for Brady to join a team as a player again. Brady retired for a second time in February 2023.
“I think all these guys want to be wanted…but this is the NFL,” he said. “Long answer, could he do it? Yeah. Would he do it? I think all the planets would have to align for something like that to happen.”
Signs don’t point to Brady making a return to the field this season as he appears dedicated to making things work as a broadcaster.
“I’ve been out to Fox Studios a few times and done some really dry runs with Kevin, who’s tremendous at what he does. I’m super excited to join an amazing team,” Brady said during an appearance on the “The Pat McAfee Show” in January.
He also did some tropical preseason bonding with his Fox colleagues such as Erin Andrews, Rob Gronkowski, Erin Andrews, Michael Strahan, among others in late April.
His bid for an ownership stake in the Raiders, which is still awaiting league approval, could also be a potential roadblock to an on-field return.
“But I don’t know … I’m always going to be in good shape, always be able to throw the ball,” Brady sad in the “Deep Cuts” podcast in April. “So, to come in for a little bit, like MJ coming back, I don’t know if they’d let me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Buck is more intrigued to find out how good Brady is in the booth than seeing if he can still compete on the field.
“I do know he is pouring a lot of work into being a broadcaster,” Buck said. “I’m anxious, like everybody to hear how that is.”
