Mark Schlereth calls Tom Brady the 'world's greatest American'

Fox Sports analyst Mark Schlereth thinks very highly of recently retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

Speaking with Awful Announcing Friday, the three-time Super Bowl champion praised Brady’s work ethic while discussing his move to the network in 2024, calling him the “world’s greatest American.”

“If you know Tom at all and I don’t know him well at all, but I know him well enough to know that dude is a grinder,” Schlereth said. “That dude works. And everyone I’ve ever talked to whether it’s New England teammates or — I did his first year in Tampa I think I did four or five games. And it was incredible, like every guy was essentially ‘Hey, I thought I was a pro.’

“… Every guy I talked to whether it’d be Mike Evans to Chris Godwin to, I mean, you name it. Every dude on Tampa’s roster was like, and I’m paraphrasing but basically saying “I thought I was a pro, I thought I worked hard, I thought I prepared, and [I learned] I had to pick my game up because that dude is unreal.’ … I have nothing but the upmost respect for the work he does.

“And I know he’ll do from a broadcasting standpoint if he does decide to go into the booth and again, I don’t know what he’s going to do, but if he does decide to do that, I assume he’ll be good. He’s Tom freaking Brady, the world’s greatest American as far as I’m concerned.”

Tom Brady addresses plans to work as broadcaster for FOX

Like so many others, Schlereth casted doubt on whether Brady will ever call a game in the Fox Sports booth. Brady reportedly signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with the network, saying he would begin in 2024. After agreeing to purchase a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, rumors immediately swirled that the 45-year-old could somehow find a way back onto the football field in 2023.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated Tuesday, Brady set the record straight, saying he would not be coming out of retirement for a second time.

“I’m certain I’m not playing again,” Tom Brady said. “I tried to make that clear. I hate to continue to profess that because I’ve already told people that lots of times.

“Looking forward to my broadcasting job with Fox next year,” Brady said. “Looking forward to the opportunity I have with the Raiders, we’re in the process with that. …In my personal life (looking forward to) spending as much time with my kids as I can, seeing them grow up and supporting the different things they have going on. That’s a very important job and I take them all very seriously.”