Greg Olsen Is Losing His Spot At FOX – What Will He Do Next?

What To Expect: Today’s newsletter breaks down the economics behind sports broadcasting contracts, including why networks hand out $100 million-plus contracts and Greg Olsen’s upcoming contract dilemma with Fox. Enjoy!

Greg Olsen is good at his job. Like, really good. The former All-Pro NFL tight end is one of the few NFL analysts on television today that everyone either loves or at least doesn’t hate. He isn’t polarizing. He’s always prepared, and he has an innate ability to educate viewers by breaking down complex situations into digestible soundbites.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Olsen only received the top NFL analyst spot at Fox because ESPN paid $165 million to poach Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Fox responded by signing Tom Brady to a record-breaking 10-year, $375 million contract, more than he made his entire 23-year NFL career, and the network plugged Olsen into the booth as a holdover until Brady retired and was ready to take over the broadcasting gig.

But Olsen is making it difficult for Fox. He has quickly become one of the best analysts in football. He called the most-watched Super Bowl of all time last year. And at a $10 million annual salary, he is cheaper than other number-one NFL analysts like Tom Brady ($37.5 million), Troy Aikman ($18 million), and Tony Romo ($17.5 million).

Taking a backseat to Brady would be a raw deal for Olsen. His $10 million contract will drop to $3 million as a number two analyst, and he would be leaving his partner-in-crime Kevin Burkhardt to announce less-popular games beneath Brady.

But what other option does Olsen have? Is Fox really going to let a good analyst that everyone likes walk away? And what happens if Tom Brady isn’t any good?