Tom Brady Under Fire For Alleged Slur Directed At Josh Allen During Live NFL Broadcast

Retired NFL star Tom Brady faced backlash on Sunday, October 27, after using an ableist slur to describe Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during a live Fox Sports broadcast.

As The Blast reported, Brady officially entered the world of sports broadcasting with Fox Sports, signing a lucrative 10-year deal reportedly worth $375 million before this season began. This new role marks Brady’s shift from the field to the broadcast booth, where he has provided high-profile NFL game analysis.

However, Tom Brady’s new role hasn’t been without controversy; he recently faced backlash for using an offensive term to describe Josh Allen.

Commenting on Josh Allen’s playing style in the Bills’ game against the Seattle Seahawks, Brady referred to the 28-year-old as sometimes playing “like a spaz.” The term, which derives from “spastic,” is often used as a derogatory reference to those with disabilities affecting motor function, particularly involuntary movements.

“Sometimes he played like a spaz, like a grade-schooler on a sugar high, but now he’s controlled the chaos," he said. "He’s like a storm coming into town and you don’t want that storm coming into this town.”

Social media quickly reacted, with fans calling Brady’s remark offensive.

“I thought I heard that! Someone’s gotta tell him he can’t say that on TV," one social media user wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Another critic wrote, “Highly offensive to people who have physical disabilities as well as their loved ones.”

“The ‘spaz’ comment was uncalled for," a third expressed.

At this time, neither Tom Brady nor Josh Allen has responded to the backlash.

In May 2022, Fox Sports announced a groundbreaking 10-year, $375 million contract with Tom Brady, making him their lead NFL analyst once he officially stepped away from the field. This deal not only highlighted Fox's high hopes for Brady’s broadcasting potential but also surpassed his cumulative NFL career earnings, which totaled nearly $333 million across 23 seasons.

In a July 2022 interview with Variety, Brady shed some light on the process.

“They approached me after the season. And there’s a lot of history that I have with Fox. I spoke with their executives, and I really had to evaluate if that’s what I wanted to commit to," he said. "I have a very unique perspective on football and how it should be played, and what good plays look like and what bad plays look like. I feel like I can still have a great impact on the game.”

On September 8, 2024, Brady finally took his seat in the broadcast booth to make his debut. “We’re here, it’s been quite a journey,” he said as the broadcast began.

But Brady's debut as an NFL analyst wasn't entirely smooth sailing. Critics quickly noted some on-air hiccups, including moments when the newly retired quarterback seemed to struggle to find his words, leading to pauses that felt slightly awkward to viewers.

In one unplanned moment, Brady even let out a burp during the first quarter—a minor slip that didn’t go unnoticed by fans on social media. "Maybe someone should have listened to Tom Brady actually say words before dropping $300 million on him," one NFL fan expressed.

"I’ve heard enough of Tom Brady, justice for Greg Olsen," another said.

However, Brady did have standout moments, offering unique insights drawn from his years on the field.

He gave viewers a rare look into what it’s like to face down a blitz, explaining the mental and physical reactions quarterbacks experience under intense pressure. Brady also demonstrated his sharp eye for the game, spotting open receivers and key plays that even seasoned analysts might overlook.

“I was using my arm and my body for so many years, and now I get to a stadium and I get to use my voice,” Brady said of his new broadcasting job. “I might get out there tomorrow morning and throw some passes just to remember what it feels like. But as Michael Strahan told me in the pregame, ‘You’re going to wake up Monday morning and you aren’t going to be sore,’ and that I’m very happy about.”