Tom Brady sparks a playful FOX exchange
Tom Brady made his first appearance on the FOX NFL Sunday main desk during Week 3, leading to a lighthearted exchange with Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long. Brady joked about finally receiving an invitation after being absent from the desk the previous season.
Bradshaw pointed toward Long, while Long added his own quarterback joke before the discussion moved to the Chargers-Bills matchup. The playful moment added some humor to FOX’s pregame coverage.
Bradshaw points toward Long
Terry Bradshaw quickly responded when Brady mentioned not being invited to the program before. Bradshaw jokingly blamed Howie Long, telling Brady, “It was Howie’s decision. It wasn’t ours,” before adding that the group loved him.
The comment turned the attention toward Long during the lighthearted opening exchange. Bradshaw framed the supposed invitation decision as Long’s responsibility, continuing the joke about Brady’s first appearance at the main desk.
Long adds a quarterback joke
Howie Long continued the exchange with a joke about quarterbacks sharing a room. He suggested that bringing too many together could turn into a catfight.
The remark followed Terry Bradshaw’s playful explanation of Tom Brady’s invitation. Long was teasing the former quarterbacks during Brady’s remote appearance on FOX NFL Sunday, keeping the conversation light before the football discussion began.
Bradshaw fires back at Long
Bradshaw answered Long with a short command to stop, telling his longtime colleague to shut up. The response came during the same opening conversation and was part of the back-and-forth between the two veteran FOX analysts.
The exchange ended the invitation joke. The program then moved into football discussion about the Chargers and Bills matchup.
Brady remains part of FOX’s lead team
Brady remains FOX Sports’ lead NFL analyst during the 2026 season, working with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt. FOX announced that the pair would begin their third season together, with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines.
Brady also appeared on the FOX NFL Sunday main desk before the Chargers-Bills game in Week 3. FOX identifies him as its lead NFL analyst for game coverage.
FOX NFL Sunday begins another season
FOX NFL Sunday returned for its 33rd season in 2026, with Curt Menefee hosting. The regular studio group includes Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Rob Gronkowski, while Jay Glazer provides league news.
The show has been part of FOX’s NFL coverage since its debut in 1994. It continues to air on Sundays.
The exchange came before a key matchup
The Brady conversation took place before the Chargers visited the Bills on September 27, 2026. Buffalo entered the game with a 2-0 record, while Los Angeles was 0-2 after two weeks of the regular season.
The matchup was scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. FOX carried the game.
Brady discusses the Chargers’ struggles
After the pregame banter, Tom Brady discussed the Chargers’ early-season problems. He identified turnovers, sacks, fumbles, and poor execution as issues that needed attention before more detailed game planning could help.
Brady also questioned whether Buffalo was an easy place to solve those problems. Los Angeles subsequently lost 24-16 and fell to 0-3.
Interesting fact: Howie Long spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Raiders.
Josh Allen enters the discussion
The pregame conversation also focused on Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen. Tom Brady praised his performances through the first 2 games, highlighting his ability to pass from the pocket and become a runner when passing options disappeared.
Allen scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown against Houston in Week 1. Against the Chargers in Week 3, he added 2 rushing touchdowns, both from 1 yard out.
Joe Brady gets a name-based joke
Brady was asked how much credit Buffalo head coach Joe Brady deserved for the team’s early success. Tom Brady responded with a joke that anyone named Brady should receive all the credit, then shifted to a serious explanation of Joe Brady’s work.
He said the coach had introduced new routines and a fresh approach after taking over. Buffalo then improved to 3-0.
Bradshaw and Long share a long FOX history
Bradshaw and Long have been part of FOX NFL Sunday since the program began in 1994. Both are Pro Football Hall of Famers and former NFL players who moved into television work after their playing careers ended.
Their continued presence connects the current show with its original 1994 lineup. FOX’s 2026 announcement identifies both Bradshaw and Long as members of the FOX NFL Sunday desk alongside host Curt Menefee.
Brady’s studio role adds another layer
Tom Brady joined FOX’s studio panel by video from Buffalo before the Week 3 game. The segment brought his perspective into the pregame discussion ahead of his regular game-analysis assignment.
Brady later called the Chargers–Bills matchup with Kevin Burkhardt, while Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi reported from the sidelines.
The internet is also talking about Aaron Rodgers’ profane Steelers rant getting caught live on CBS.
The exchange became part of Week 3 coverage
The Bradshaw and Long exchange came as FOX prepared viewers for the Week 3 matchup between Buffalo and Los Angeles. After the joke ended, the panel turned to team performance, quarterback play and coaching questions connected to the game.
Buffalo later defeated Los Angeles 24-16. The result left Buffalo at 3-0 and Los Angeles at 0-3.
In other news, Stephen Curry is about to become the NBA’s first $600 million player.
What did you think of the exchange between Brady, Bradshaw and Long? Like this post if you enjoyed the moment, and leave a comment with your take on the conversation.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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