An examination of Tom Brady's path to his upcoming debut in the broadcast booth.

Since Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL "for good," over 19 months have passed.

The NFL legend will make his broadcast debut this afternoon, joining lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt in the FOX booth for "America's Game of the Week."

The Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys will face off in the nationally televised Week 1 game, with FOX Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews and reporter and feature contributor Tom Rinaldi joining the broadcast team.

In 2022, Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corporation, announced that Tom Brady would join the sports network's top announcing team after retiring from football. At the time, Brady was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"In 2022, Murdoch stated that his television career would be exceptional and thrilling, but it ultimately depends on the individual's decision when the time comes."

Brady postponed his entry into the broadcast booth by a year, but eventually decided to begin the second phase of his career in 2024. Over the past few months, the New England Patriots legend has discussed his next career move in various interviews and speaking engagements.

Brady was interviewed by FOX Sports from the Cleveland Browns stadium on Saturday while Michigan gathered in the locker room during a halftime break against Texas.

"Brady expressed his excitement ahead of his debut, stating that there was little anxiety despite being obviously super excited. He highlighted the significant preparation that had gone into the event from many individuals and the fact that it was a culmination of a two-year journey. Brady emphasized that what he was most thrilled about was getting back to NFL football. He was joined in the booth by Kevin and Erin, and Tom Rin, and they formed a great team. Brady appreciated the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals and cover a sport he loved."

Brady talks expectations for first season in the broadcasting booth

Brady's meticulous preparation before games has carried over to his television career.

During a Miami Dolphins game, Brady sat in an NBC production truck. Burkhart has participated in mock games with Brady. The legendary quarterback admitted that he offered his apologies to Burkhardt when he made mistakes during the practice games. However, Brady said the experienced play-by-play man did reassure him.

Brady stated on "FOX NFL Sunday" that he aimed to demonstrate to his teammates every day, "I may be the newbie, but I've got your backs too."

Will Brady critique players during broadcast?

For several years, Brady has openly discussed his views on his "Let's Go!" podcast.

In a podcast last year, Brady stated that he believes there is a significant amount of mediocrity in the NFL.

Before being inducted into the Patriots' hall of fame, he stated to Yahoo! Sports that "quarterbacking has regressed a bit in the NFL." He attributed this to coaching in both the league and college football. However, during a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, Brady expressed hope that he would not be overly critical of quarterbacks when he begins broadcasting.

"Brady admitted that he might have used the phrase "That was horrible" on TV, but he acknowledged that he couldn't say it."

Bill Belichick has replaced Tom Brady as the co-host of the "Let's Go!" podcast, with Larry Fitzgerald and veteran sports reporter Jim Gray remaining as co-hosts.

The Cowboys and Browns kickoff at 4:25 p.m. Eastern on FOX.

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