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Exclusive | Fox rejects Netflix request for Tom Brady on Christmas NFL game

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2 months ago

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Exclusive | Fox rejects Netflix request for Tom Brady on Christmas NFL game

Netflix is jumping into the NFL pool with a Christmas doubleheader and looking to make a big splash.

The streaming service is reportedly paying a total of about $150 million to air Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day.

The Post has learned that one of the first moves Netflix tried to make for one of the broadcast teams was to utilize the top Fox Sports pairing of Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt.

Broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt (l) and Tom Brady (r) walk along the field before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images

However, sources said that Fox rejected the request.

Now, according to sources, Netflix is targeting Ian Eagle, Noah Eagle, Greg Olsen and Nate Burleson as the announcers for the extravaganza. No deals have been finalized.

Ian Eagle and Burleson are both NFL talents for CBS Sports, which is producing the games for Netflix as a third party.

Ian Eagle calls NFL games for CBS, which is producing Netflix’s Christmas doubleheader. E. H. Wallop
Commentator Noah Eagle looks on during the game between Team USA and Serbian Men’s National Team on July 28, 2024 at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris, France. NBAE via Getty Images

It is unclear whether NBC and Fox would permit the younger Eagle and Olsen, respectively, to do a game for Netflix, though one source said Fox is “contemplating” the arrangement for Olsen.

Olsen excelled as the top NFL analyst for Fox the past two years, but is now on the second team with Joe Davis after Brady joined the network on a 10-year deal worth a total of $375 million.

NBC has previously allowed Noah Eagle to announce the NFL on CBS-owned Nickelodeon, which he called alongside Burleson.

Commentator Greg Olsen looks on prior to a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
American-Canadian television host Nate Burleson arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ Season 1 held at the Netflix Tudum Theater on July 11, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Reps for Netflix and CBS declined to comment.

Reps for Fox and NBC could not immediately be reached for comment.

Brady would have been an obvious choice for Netflix as he would have made a splash as being arguably the greatest NFL player of all-time.

Plus, Netflix has history with him, as it aired his roast earlier this year, and it was the streaming service’s most-watched comedy special of this year so far.

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