Fox Sports, a few weeks after making a splash by announcing Tom Brady would be joining the network as an NFL analyst when his playing career is over, has confirmed its lead announcing talent for 2022.As expected, Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen have been named lead play-by-play announcer and analyst, replacing Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
In a stunning move prior to the Brady bombshell, Fox parted ways with Buck and Aikman after more than 20 years, with the pair shifting to ESPN’s Monday Night Football.Burkhardt and Olsen will be joined by reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi as well as rules expert Mike Pereira, Fox said.
The team will handle regular season and playoff games, culminating with Fox’s 10th Super Bowl telecast in February.With the NFL continuing to draw potent ratings despite myriad changes to the pay-TV ecosystem, announcing talent has considerable negotiating leverage and the hierarchy has been in a state of flux.
The dean of NFL broadcasters, Al Michaels, recently left NBC’s Sunday Night Football for Amazon, which has exclusive rights to Thursday night games starting this fall.A rich contract given to lead CBS analyst Tony Romo, who could reportedly make $180 million over 10 years, has upped the ante for others in the booth.
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