With FOX NFL’s hiring of Tom Brady as its lead color commentator, the previous lead moved down to the No. 2 team and so on. Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, who was part of FOX’s No. 1 broadcast team with play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, had to step aside for Brady this season.
In an interview with Joseph Person of The Athletic, Olsen spoke about his diminished role and if he had any resentment towards Brady or FOX.
“I don’t think resentment’s probably accurate. But I also think it’s not too far off, if I’m being honest,” Olsen said. “I don’t have any ill will — there’s no personal resentment towards Tom, or obviously K.B. (Kevin Burkhardt) and Erin (Andrews). I still talk to all of them fairly regularly. I’m hoping to see them next week down in New Orleans and grab dinner or a drink and just kind of shoot the s—, catch up.
“It’s hard to sit there and watch games that over the last couple of years you were preparing for and you were calling. And then you’re sitting there on your couch and you’re watching the game, you’re almost kind of broadcasting the game in your brain. You’re saying, ‘Oh, man, what would I have said on this play? There was so much to talk about there. That would’ve been super fun to dive into.’ So you’re kinda driving yourself crazy with all these what-if scenarios as you’re watching the game. It’s very hard now to watch the games and just sit back and watch.”
Olsen works alongside Joe Davis as part of FOX NFL’s No. 2 broadcast team.
“It’s fun doing it every week, and certain weeks are better than others,” Olsen continued. “But after the last couple years, our real marquee moments were those playoff games and NFC championships. And obviously, this rematch of the Super Bowl two years ago came right down to the wire and was one of the best Super Bowls of all time.
“My goal is to call top games. I’ve been very adamant about that over the last couple years. My goal is still to get back there. I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know where that takes place. But I’m continuing to work towards that goal and hopefully have the opportunity get back to calling these marquee games at some point.”
Olsen played for 14 years in the NFL. He finished his career with 742 receptions (seventh-most all-time among TEs) for 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns. He spent nine seasons in Carolina, four in Chicago and one in Seattle.