By Richie Zyontz
FOX NFL Lead Producer
Editor’s Observe:Richie Zyontz has been an NFL producer for FOX since 1994 and is in his twenty third season because the lead producer. He has greater than 40 years of expertise overlaying the league and has produced seven Tremendous Bowls. All through the 2024 NFL season, he’s offering an inside look as FOX’s new No. 1 NFL workforce, together with NFL legend Tom Brady, makes its journey towards Tremendous Bowl LIX.Learn extra behind-the-scenes tales from Richie Zyontz right here.
Solely Mom Nature might overshadow Tom Brady’s return to Tampa, and thru most of final week, that’s precisely what occurred.
As Gulf Coast residents evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Helene, the FOX crew strategized tips on how to arrive for Sunday’s sport between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It takes a village to make a broadcast. And in reacting to a serious climate occasion, it’s usually the unheralded elements of the community that transfer to the forefront. Journey, scheduling, operations, truck drivers — they pave the way in which for us to slip in to provide and announce these video games.
The cell items, our touring management rooms, had been unable to park on the stadium on Wednesday. That house was wanted to stage emergency autos for the upcoming storm. Inns had been shut down, so our journey people scrambled to seek out rooms. Canceled flights wanted to be rebooked. But the obstacles we confronted paled compared to these confronted by Florida residents basically, and the Tampa Bay Bucs specifically.
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Our manufacturing name with Baker Mayfield featured cameo appearances by his spouse and five-month-old daughter as they had been holed up in a lodge, driving out the storm. By Friday, the storm had handed, and the anticipated theme reemerged — Tom Brady was again in Tampa.
Tom Brady chats with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen earlier than Sunday’s sport. (Photograph by Richie Zyontz)
The Pied piper …
Brady had a busy Sunday morning. As he made his manner right down to the sector for pre-game preparation, he was shortly surrounded by former coaches and teammates. He cherished his time in Tampa, and the mutual affection was evident. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield, and others supplied handshakes and hugs.
It’s by no means onerous to seek out Brady when he visits the sector. Simply observe the parade of cameras and increase mics that tail him all over the place.Â
Everybody wished to share a Brady anecdote — even the visiting Eagles. In our assembly with Philly defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a 40-year teaching veteran, he revealed Brady’s first profession begin in 2001 got here towards him and the Indianapolis Colts. Extra attention-grabbing than the story itself was the enjoyment with which Fangio advised it. The twinkle in his eye revealed a way of satisfaction at being a part of Brady’s historical past.
It is easy to seek out Tom Brady earlier than a sport — simply observe the cameras and increase mics. Right here, Brady speaks with Bucs assistant Tom Moore. (Photograph by Richie Zyontz)
It’s not the warmth, however the humidity …
The vicious storm from earlier within the week gave option to a broiling solar and insufferable humidity. Area temperatures soared manner above 100. Our sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, battling the weather themselves, stored us alert to the regular stream of gamers heading to the locker room for IVs. Wealthy Russo’s digital camera crew repeatedly discovered pictures of the visiting eagles exhausted on the sector and on the bench.
Hand-held cameramen Corey Alberty, Tony Gambino, Kyle Hagan, Phil Jacques, and Craig “Crash” Vanden Heuvel, lugging 20-40 kilos of apparatus up and down the sidelines, by no means missed a beat, and offered stirring pictures all through the sport.
There’s nothing like climate so as to add to the drama of a sporting occasion. Typically it’s rain, in a while will probably be chilly and snow. However on Sunday, it was the warmth taking middle stage.
The warmth within the wake of Hurricane Helene took its toll on gamers like Jalen Hurts on Sunday. (Photograph by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs)
Brady nuggets …
The transition from discipline to broadcast sales space can usually be a bumpy one, as understanding the sport and speaking the sport are fully completely different.Â
Athletes depend on instincts, so do broadcasters. Brady is studying to not overthink and to only let his commentary rip. He’s crucial when vital and is concentrated on answering the “why” — nearly as good analysts should.
However most significantly, he’s being trustworthy and having enjoyable.
Tom Brady waves to the gang after he was honored on the video board throughout Sunday’s sport. (Photograph by Richie Zyontz)
He famous at first of our broadcast that the Bucs wanted to get their prime receiver Mike Evans concerned early. It took one play for that to occur. He addressed the kerfuffle over Baker Mayfield’s remark that the workforce felt stress throughout Brady’s tenure. Brady’s response primarily was he was there to win: “If I used to be going to have enjoyable, I used to be going to Disneyland with my youngsters.”
He additionally made information by revealing that the Bears had been fascinated by signing him as a free agent — I think about that made headlines in Chicago on Monday morning.
In describing first 12 months Tampa offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Brady mentioned: “It’s a ability set and the extra you do it, the higher you’ll be at it.”
No more true phrases might be utilized to our first-year analyst.
Now our truck drivers are off on the lengthy haul from Tampa to Palo Alto, California, for subsequent Sunday’s sport between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. It is going to be a chance for Brady to check the offense of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, one of many NFL’s actually good minds. We are able to’t wait.
Richie Zyontz has been an NFL producer for FOX since 1994 and is in his twenty third season as lead producer. He boasts greater than 40 years of expertise overlaying the NFL.
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