Brady’s partial ownership of the Raiders has presented a conflict of interests, and several reports have indicated he could leave broadcasting.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Tom Brady shot down speculation that he won’t return to Fox Sports as its lead NFL game analyst on Wednesday. The rookie broadcaster says he’s looking forward to returning to the network’s No. 1 NFL announcing booth next season.

“I don’t know where it comes from. I know it always says ‘sources close to Brady,’ or whatever. But I’ve had the best time at Fox,” Brady told Colin Cowherd on The Herd with Colin Cowherd Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve loved every time going into the booth and working with such great people, starting with my partner Kevin (Burkhardt).”

The seven-time Super Bowl champion even dangled the possibility of working for Fox beyond his current 10-year, $375 million contract.

“I’ve loved the whole process of diving into all these different teams. It’s been a lot of growth for me in one year. And I really can’t wait to see what it looks like in year two. And way beyond that too,” Brady said. “So I’ve got nine years left on my deal. Maybe longer, you never know. If Fox wants me, and I want to go, then we’ll keep going. Because it’s been really fun so far.”

Brady is the highest-paid NFL broadcaster by far at $37.5 million a year. Cowherd is the only member of the press who gets regular access to Brady. I thought it was smart of FS1’s most popular weekday host to immediately tackle the elephant in the room. Especially with Brady poised to call the two biggest games of his young broadcast career.

The former Patriots quarterback will team up with Burkhardt, sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, and rules analyst Mike Pereira to call the Eagles vs. Commanders NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia on Sunday (3 p.m. ET).

Then, the Fox crew will travel to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. It will be the second time in three years that Fox has broadcast the big game. Former No. 1 analyst Greg Olsen and Burkhardt called Super Bowl LVIII in Glendale, Arizona in 2023.

Cowherd also asked Brady about complaints that Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes gets protective treatment from refs, and worse, flops on the sideline to try to draw 15-yard penalties on tacklers.

“When quarterbacks become running backs, and they’re out of the pocket, they should lose their protection,” Brady said.

It’s not fair to make defensive players play at “half-speed” because they’re afraid of drawing a flag for tackling a QB, said Brady. Like Troy Aikman of ESPN, he hopes the league examines the issue.

“It’s just a disservice to the game,” he said. “It’s something I would hope that people would really address and say, ‘Not that anybody’s trying to take advantage of the rules but they’ve just gone to a point where they impact the quality of the game.’”

Despite Brady’s statements, speculation will continue to swirl about his Fox TV future due to his part-time ownership stake in the Raiders. Still, the NFL loves having its most successful player coming into millions of viewers’ living rooms on Sundays. Bottom line: The NFL is good for Brady and Brady is good for the NFL.

I thought Brady had his strongest performance of the season calling Lions vs. Commanders Saturday night. Like Adam Schefter, I don’t think the so-called “Brady Rules” (which prohibit him from visiting opposing team facilities and interviewing their coaches) will have much impact on whether he wants to keep doing TV. Instead, it will be up to Brady himself—and Fox, which has Olsen waiting in the wings as a No. 2 analyst who could easily slide back into the No. 1 role.