Terry Bradshaw, four-time Super Bowl champion as a former quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and current NFL analyst on FOX Sports, is known for being a funny guy on the sports broadcast segments.
And nothing, not even his own health, is off limits when it comes to Terry cracking a joke.
Last October, Bradshaw revealed that he had been battling various types of cancer since November 2021. It started with bladder cancer and after he beat that, he was diagnosed with skin cancer after doctors found a tumor in his neck during an MRI for an unrelated injury.
As of now, Terry’s cancer-free. And so in his mind, it’s fair game and open season to joke about his own health issues.
In preparation for Super Bowl LVII, Terry talked to reporters of FOX Sports, and joked about a way to get the ratings up for this Sunday’s big game.
“I told Fox, if I could just die on the show, think about the ratings, right?” he joked. “Are we not about ratings? That’d be huge.
“Not only that, it’d be a huge carryover,” he continued. “All the networks would be saying that Bradshaw died on the Fox NFL show. Can you imagine the huge stuff? And maybe I get a huge statue out front.”
Obviously, Terry was joking, and if you are familiar with him and have seen him talk on the FOX NFL Pregame Show every Sunday, then you’d understand this is just Terry being Terry. But for some who may be concerned about how he feels about his health and want to know how he truly feels about his situation, he followed his quips with some reassurance.
“But I want to do it, if I keep my health together, I love what I’m doing,” he said. “But we all get old. We all get kicked out. I’m not looking over my shoulder, but [Tom] Brady is coming in.”
Terry is referring to Tom Brady, former QB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who announced his retirement from the NFL last week, and how he signed a 10-year $375 million contract for broadcasting for FOX Sports, starting in 2024.
As many of the broadcasters for professional sports, including Greg Olsen, Tony Romo, Michael Strahan, Shaquille O’Neal, and even Terry, were all former professional athletes themselves. So, Terry had some advice for Brady regarding this next transition in his future career.
“It won’t be easy,” Terry said to reporters. “The problem with Tom is the whole world is gonna watch. Everyone wants to see how he does. And if he doesn’t meet the expectations of you guys, you’re gonna say it. So I don’t think criticism is something that has come his way in his 20-plus years in the NFL. I know a lot of these superstar quarterbacks get criticized to a degree. They don’t take kindly to it.”
He seemed confident in Tom’s ability to adjust to a new dynamic compared to what he’s faced throughout his athletic career. But Terry’s also upfront and straightforward about the work that goes into broadcasting.
“Tom will put the work in,” he added. “TV is me and you. I’m talking to you. I’m not gonna talk over your head [or] below you. I’m gonna talk right to you. We’re gonna have some fun. We’re gonna keep it simple. We’re gonna have a good visit today. That’s television. The quicker he can learn that, and relax [the better he’ll be].”
He then joked about who the FOX network will choose between Brady and newly added broadcasting member and recent NFL retiree, Greg Olsen.
“We all love [Brady]. We’re pulling for him. I feel sorry for Greg Olsen who’s had a phenomenal year. So maybe they may start Tom out in second team.”
Regarding his health, the New York Post asked Terry earlier this week about any updates and how he’s been doing recently.
“I’m good,” he said. “I just left the hospital [Monday]. I had another treatment. Got no sleep. Got up at 1 a.m., drove to New York and came out here. I’m a little beat today, but I’m good. Cancer free.
“What would happen with the studio?” he asked after being asked about any plans he had on retiring from broadcasting. “Who would take my place? That’s not ever going to happen.”
Super Bowl LVII kicks off this Sunday on FOX at 6:30 PM. The Kansas City Chiefs will battle against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ; home to the Arizona Cardinals.
Sources:
https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/terry-bradshaw-jokes-about-dying-on-air-think-about-the-ratings/
https://nypost.com/2023/02/07/terry-bradshaw-it-wont-be-easy-for-tom-brady-on-fox-tv/
