Tom Brady apologizes for on-air profanity
Tom Brady is a former NFL quarterback who now serves as lead NFL analyst for Fox. He won 7 Super Bowl titles in a 23-season career that ended in 2023, then joined Fox in 2024.
On Sept. 20, 2026, Brady used profanity twice while calling the Cowboys’ 37-20 win over the Commanders in Arlington, Texas. He apologized for the language 4 days later, on Sept. 24, during his AskTom segment.
What Brady said during Daniels’ injury
Tom Brady reacted on the live Fox broadcast when a replay showed Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels injuring his left elbow on the final play before halftime. Brady blurted out an expletive, then apologized and said he had not expected to see the injury.
The moment came during the Dallas Cowboys’ 37-20 win over the Commanders on Sept. 20, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Brady’s crude description of a Prescott throw
Later in the broadcast, Tom Brady used a crude, urine referencing slang term for a deep sideline pass from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to receiver CeeDee Lamb. The comment quickly spread across social media.
Brady meant the phrase as high praise for the throw’s speed and accuracy. Fox analysts broadcast live and unedited, so the unscripted remark reached viewers nationwide during the Sept 20, 2026, Cowboys Commanders matchup in Arlington, Texas.
How serious is Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow on the final play before halftime against Dallas on Sept. 20, 2026. He was carted off the field, and backup Marcus Mariota finished Washington’s 37-20 loss. Initial X-rays showed no fracture.
On Sept. 25, coach Dan Quinn said Daniels was week to week and would not be placed on injured reserve. Mariota is set to start Washington’s Week 3 game.
Cowboys beat Commanders 37-20 in Week 2
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 20, 2026. The Week 2 result gave Dallas its first win of the season and left Washington at 0-2.
Dak Prescott completed 26 of 31 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb caught 8 passes for 153 yards and 2 scores as Dallas pulled away in the second half.
Brady says he is embarrassed by his language
Tom Brady addressed his language during a Sept. 24, 2026, #AskTom segment. He said he was embarrassed by what he had said while calling the Cowboys–Commanders game.
Brady joked that some grandmothers watching Fox might disapprove of his language. He apologized to viewers and said he would clean up his remarks on air.
Fun fact: Tom Brady holds the NFL record with 5th Super Bowl MVP awards earned throughout his illustrious career
Brady jokes about his family’s swear jar
Tom Brady joked during #AskTom that the swear jar at home was getting too full. He said his children were happy to see him add to it.
Asked about his crude description of Dak Prescott’s pass, Brady explained how a quarterback generates power through footwork, body rotation, and a relaxed throwing arm.
Brady’s Fox deal is worth $375 million
Tom Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox in May 2022, while still an active NFL quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The contract made him the highest-paid broadcaster in sports broadcasting history.
Brady debuted as Fox’s lead NFL analyst in the 2024 season. His pay is more than double the roughly $17 million to $18 million yearly salaries earned by CBS’s Tony Romo and ESPN’s Troy Aikman.
Kevin Burkhardt calls games alongside Brady
Kevin Burkhardt handles play-by-play commentary alongside Tom Brady, Fox’s lead NFL game analyst. Brady joined the network’s top broadcast team for the 2024 season, taking over the analyst role previously held by Greg Olsen.
Their first regular-season assignment together was the Cowboys–Browns game on Sept. 8, 2024. The partnership continued with the Cowboys–Commanders broadcast on Sept. 20, 2026.
Brady owns a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders
Tom Brady holds a minority ownership stake of about 5% in the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL owners approved the purchase from principal owner Mark Davis during the league’s fall meetings held in Atlanta in Oct. 2024.
Brady partnered with businessman Tom Wagner on the deal, with each holding close to 5% of the franchise. The dual role as broadcaster and team owner has drawn scrutiny from several other NFL owners.
Could Brady’s remarks lead to an FCC fine?
The FCC evaluates broadcast complaints in context, considering what was said, when it aired, and the circumstances of the broadcast. Its rules allow a fine of up to $508,373 for an indecency or profanity violation by a broadcast station licensee, with a $4,692,668 cap for a continuing violation arising from a single act.
A fine is not automatic because a broadcaster uses a crude word. An FCC determination would be needed to establish whether a rule was violated.
Brady’s next broadcast is Chargers at Bills
Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt are scheduled to call the Los Angeles Chargers’ game at the Buffalo Bills on Fox at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 27, 2026. The Week 3 matchup is set for Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
The Bills enter the game 2-0, while the Chargers are 0-2. Brady will provide analysis alongside Burkhardt’s play-by-play commentary, with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines.
Brady’s brief message to Bellingham created a memorable crossover between two major sports stars. Tom Brady sends a two-word message to Jude Bellingham, revealing the short exchange that caught fans’ attention.
This isn’t Brady’s first public apology
Tom Brady has apologized publicly before. In October 2022, while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he apologized for comparing an NFL season to military deployment on his Let’s Go! podcast. At a media availability, he called it a poor choice of words.
His September 2026 apology concerned his language during a Fox broadcast, nearly 4 years after the earlier apology.
Brady’s unexpected language during the live game quickly became part of the conversation around the broadcast. Exploring why Tom Brady breaks FCC rules during a live NFL broadcast has drawn viewers’ attention.
Do you think Tom Brady’s on-air language is a big deal, or is it just part of watching live sports? Tell us in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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