Tom Brady Makes Tampa Bay Buccaneers Decision Amid NFL Season
- Tom Brady, now a Fox Sports broadcaster, releases weekly NFL Power Rankings.
- Brady made a decision about his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, amid their recent rise.
- He will next cover Cowboys vs. Commanders in Fox’s America’s Game of the Week.
After spending the first two decades of his career with the New England Patriots, Tom Brady took his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his last three years in the NFL. The three-time AP MVP won six Super Bowls alongside Bill Belichick in New England before securing one final championship in Tampa in 2021.
Since his (second) retirement in 2023, Brady has transitioned into broadcasting. The 15-time Pro Bowl quarterback signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox Sports, where he has since been part of the network’s top broadcast team alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Tom Brady is part of Fox Sports' top NFL broadcast team. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
One of Brady’s duties with Fox Sports is to come up with his weekly Power Rankings, which, as the name implies, rank the top 10 teams in the league based on their performances throughout the season.
On Tuesday, Brady released his latest rankings, which saw a new team rise all the way to the top.
“Alright, everyone, buckle up because if Week 6 is any indication, we’re in for an insane NFL season,” Brady prefaced his rankings.
As always, Brady started off by revealing teams 10 through six, which were, respectively, the Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos.
Entering the top 10 this week for No. 5 are the Los Angeles Rams, whom Brady commended for their 17-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. According to the three-time All-Pro QB, the Rams defense “did what you’re supposed to do against a backup quarterback,” pertaining to Cooper Rush, who replaced the injured Lamar Jackson.
Brady then turned his attention to the Detroit Lions, who have fallen to fourth after suffering a 30-17 loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in their primetime matchup at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.
Speaking of the Chiefs, Brady had a message for the Kansas City faithful and the Eagles supporters.
“I know Chiefs and Eagles fans might have something to say looking at their teams a few spots back,” he said. “But this isn’t math class. The transitive property does not apply to football.”
Brady awarded the No. 3 spot to the Green Bay Packers, making special mention of Josh Jacobs and the All-Pro running back’s two touchdowns in Green Bay’s Week 6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
For the No. 2 spot, even Brady himself admitted that he was surprised by his choice.
“I’ll be honest, I did not see this one coming,” Brady said. “Daniel Jones and the (Indianapolis) Colts are No. 2? They haven’t faced many real challenges on the schedule, but 5-1, it’s hard to ignore.”
The five-time Super Bowl MVP saved the best for last. After six games played in the season, Brady decided that it was time to place his Bucs at the top of the rankings.
“And at No. 1, yup, that’s right. It’s shake and bake time in Tampa,” Brady said. “This whole top 10 could be shuffled in a lot of ways, but the one thing you can’t argue is the Bucs are deserving of the top spot.”
Brady’s decision comes after Baker Mayfield led Tampa to an impressive 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The former first overall pick was on fire against the Niners, completing 17-of-23 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield and the Buccaneers clearly left an impression on their former star QB.
Brady ended his video by talking up the next game he will be covering. The 48-year-old will be back in the booth on Sunday for America’s Game of the Week on Fox Sports, featuring Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys hosting Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in a primetime showdown at AT&T Stadium.
Colts HC Shane Steichen to make final decision on QB situation behind Daniel Jones
The Indianapolis Colts are rolling at 5-1, but quarterback depth has become a major storyline heading into Week 7. With Anthony Richardson on injured reserve, head coach Shane Steichen will decide who backs up Daniel Jones — either rookie Riley Leonard or veteran Brett Rypien.
The Athletic’s James Boyd took to X (formerly known as Twitter), reporting that a team source confirmed Steichen will make the call after evaluating both options in practice this week.
“Source said #Colts HC Shane Steichen will have the final say of who is QB2 between Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien.
We can also ask Steichen before practice tomorrow (and again Friday after Rypien has practiced the whole week).”
Leonard, a sixth-round rookie from Notre Dame, has been with the Colts all season and has taken most backup reps since Richardson’s eye injury. Meanwhile, Rypien signed to the practice squad on October 14 and brings veteran experience from stints with the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.
The decision carries weight. Jones has completely revived his career under Steichen, leading the AFC’s top scoring offense. But should he miss time, the Colts must trust the next man up to keep their momentum going.
Steichen’s evaluation extends beyond game readiness — it’s also about locker room confidence and long-term continuity. Coaches and teammates alike have praised both quarterbacks for their preparation, making the final decision a reflection of who best aligns with the Colts’ offensive identity.
Leonard offers upside and youth, while Rypien brings system familiarity and game experience. The choice by the Colts coach will reveal whether he values development or veteran security as the team pushes for a playoff run.
Steichen is expected to speak before and after practice later this week, with a final depth chart decision coming no later than Friday. Until then, the quarterback room remains under review.
