Looking for a new career? What about sports broadcasting? Earlier this week, the New York Giants‘ old friend, Tom Brady, who the franchise defeated in two Super Bowls, reportedly agreed to a 10-year, $375 million contract as the FOX lead color commentator. That deal will commence whenever he finally retires from football. Brady’s megadeal will net him $37 million a year, which equates to just under two million dollars per game, more than he has earned any year in his NFL career.
Brady is following a long lineage of NFL players to join the broadcasting industry at the end of their on-field careers. Tony Romo, Greg Olsen, Cris Collinsworth, and Troy Aikman, the lead analysts at each of the four networks who carry the NFL, all had solid NFL careers that parlayed into broadcast stardom.
Brady’s megadeal got us thinking, which Giants players would be the most successful in the broadcast business?
Here are the 4 Giants who would make the best TV personalities
4. Kayvon Thibodeaux
No Giants player has a personality bigger than Kayvon Thibodeaux — ALREADY! — and, in the sports TV industry, which is an entertainment business, big personalities are imperative. Thibodeaux showcased his fun, easy-going attitude on draft night when he came dancing out on the stage before going through a secret handshake with Roger Goodell.
The day before the NFL draft, while being interviewed by ESPN’s NFL Live, the crew, who knew Thibodeaux’s broadcast interests and experience with journalism classes at the University of Oregon, let him host a segment.
And let’s not forgot, Thibodeaux’s mentor is ex-Giants superstar pass rusher Michael Strahan, who followed his historic football career with broadcasting stardom, currently starring as co-host of both Good Morning America and FOX NFL Sunday.
3. Daniel Jones
While Jones does not have anywhere closer to the personality that Thibodeaux has, what he lacks in pizzazz he makes up for with football intelligence.
While Jones’ career has gotten off to a rocky start, nobody has ever questioned his immense intelligence and stellar work ethic, two beneficial traits in the TV business.
When Jones was drafted in 2019, many compared him to his predecessor Eli Manning. While Manning delivered two championships on the field, he was considered, as Jones is, a boring public personality.
Despite that public perception, Manning has turned into one of the funniest personalities in sports TV in retirement. Since Jones shares a disturbing amount of similarities with Manning, maybe he, too, will be able to insightfully and comically share his football acumen.
2. Graham Gano
This one is a little outside the box, but nobody is more prepared to deal with pressure than a kicker. With the whole world watching and games on the line, kickers have to step up, bear the elements, and either be the reason for a win or the reason for the loss.
Graham Gano, as the Panthers’ kicker, once nailed a painful 63-yard field goal to beat the Giants, so broadcasting should be a breeze for Gano.
Gano also clearly has the personality for broadcasting, with his comedic side being revealed last week in a long tweet thread dropping subtle clues about giving Kayvon Thibodeaux his precious No. 5.
Gano could follow the path of Pat McAfee. McAfee, a college kicker and NFL standout punter, has turned into one of the most prominent figures in sports television, showing that there is a place in broadcasting for comedic special teamers.
1. Davis Webb
Before Webb decided to join his former Buffalo Bills colleagues Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen, and quarterback coach Shea Tierney in the Big Apple, Webb was set to retire to become an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills. They don’t just hire anyone to be an assistant coach.
Many coaches can become great broadcasters, as the processes are similar. Coaches teach the intricate details and X’s and O’s of the game to their players, while great broadcasters teach the intricate details to the fans.
Quarterbacks have the innate advantage in teaching the game as well, because they have to learn the tendencies of every single position in order to beat them.
Often the best broadcasters don’t have the best playing careers, and while many don’t know about Webb, he may be a fantastic broadcaster someday.
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