Greg Olsen has become one of the most beloved voices in NFL broadcasting, but his current role as Fox's No. 2 analyst isn't where he wants to stay forever. And if he gets a chance to move up elsewhere, Fox won't stand in his way—they'll be cheering him on.
Fox Sports President and Executive Producer Brad Zager made that crystal clear in a recent interview with Sports Business Journal, saying he'd be overjoyed if Olsen landed a top analyst job, even if it meant losing him.
“I will be the happiest person in the world when Greg, or whoever, calls me to tell me that Greg is getting a No. 1 job,” Zager said. “Yes, it will be bittersweet, obviously, because I love Greg on our roster. But I know that Greg is a No. 1 and I know that’s his goal.”
Olsen, a former NFL tight end, spent two seasons as Fox's lead analyst alongside Kevin Burkhardt before being bumped to the second team when the network signed Tom Brady to a massive $300 million deal. He'll remain with Fox in 2026, but his contract allows him to explore other opportunities, and speculation has already linked him to potential openings at CBS (where Tony Romo's future is uncertain) and NBC (where Mike Collinsworth is 67).
Zager's support is genuine, not just lip service. “As long as Greg is here, we’re going to appreciate having Greg here,” he said. “If he picks up the phone one day and he gets that offer that he thinks is the right path for him, he knows when he calls me that there’s nobody who’s going to congratulate him more and be happier for him than me.”
Olsen, meanwhile, is trying to stay focused on the present. He acknowledged Zager's comments with appreciation, noting that Fox has been transparent with him from the start.
“I appreciate him saying that publicly,” Olsen said. “Because Brad, Eric and the entire company have made that very clear to me behind the scenes, numerous times. It totally goes in line with what I’ve said from the beginning. Ever since Tom [Brady] joined Fox, which has obviously been well-covered, my stance has always been very consistent. [It’s] no different than when I was a player. I’ve always strived to reach the top of whatever said industry.”
Olsen is set to call games alongside Joe Davis and Pam Oliver this season, and he insists he's fully committed to that role. “Fox has always been transparent with me, and I’ve been very transparent about my goals and where I see myself in this industry,” he said. “I’m certainly going to try to do everything in my power to call great games, be a great teammate for Joe [Davis], be a great teammate for Pam [Oliver] and the rest of our crew. This is not about me chasing my next job. This is about me being the best broadcaster I can be with my group until they tell us that our season is over.”
Olsen's situation echoes the ongoing uncertainty around Tony Romo's future at CBS, where J.J. Watt has already been mentioned as a possible successor. And if Olsen does eventually get his shot, he'll have a strong support system behind him.
For now, Olsen is focused on the season ahead. “I am 100% committed to this NFL season with Fox,” he said. “We’re opening up in Pittsburgh [Sept. 13] here in a couple weeks for what should be a fun game with Aaron Rodgers [and the Steelers against the Atlanta Falcons].”
When that day comes—whether it's this year or down the road—Fox will be ready to say goodbye with a smile. As Zager put it, there's no one he'd rather see succeed elsewhere.
