What Did Tom Brady Really Say During Eagles vs Cowboys? Breaking Down His On Air Slip

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

During the recent Tom Brady broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys NFL Week 12game, the legendary former quarterback-turned-broadcaster made a verbal slip that immediately went viral online. As he was describing a play, he mispronounced the name of Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson in a way that sounded like a racial slur, leading to widespread reaction and debate.

This article breaks down exactly what was said, the surrounding context, how it’s being interpreted, and what it means for Brady’s broadcasting career.

What exactly did Tom Brady say and when?

In the live broadcast clip, while describing a play involving the Eagles’ offensive line, Brady suddenly said what many viewers heard as the word “nicker” before quickly correcting himself:

“Excuse me. Landon Dickerson, right there.”

Although Brady maintained it was a simple verbal misstep, the audio clip quickly circulated on social media, where users highlighted the immediate similarity to a racial slur and expressed outrage.

Context and how the error happened

Brady’s commentary occurred during the Eagles-Cowboys game, where he was in the broadcast booth for FOX Sports. The player in question, Landon Dickerson, was not even active in that game, which led many viewers to further question the commentator’s accuracy and attention.

The slip appears to be a combination of a mispronunciation and momentary verbal confusion: some off-field watchers speculated Brady may have meant to name a different player, for example, Eagles cornerback Parry Nickerson, and simply stumbled in real-time.

Why has the reaction been strong against Tom Brady

The word heard (“nicker”) is phonetically very similar to a known racial slur, which naturally triggers sensitivity. Brady is a high-profile broadcaster under contract and thus under greater scrutiny. Any on-air error is amplified.

The fact that the player referenced wasn’t active in the game added to perceptions of inattention or carelessness in the broadcast.

Tom Brady’s broadcasting role and past slips

Tom Brady’s move to FOX Sports as lead analyst made headlines; he signed a major deal and is navigating the transition from athlete to broadcaster. While this current mispronunciation is the most viral error to date, it’s not entirely his first: earlier in his broadcast caree,r he had mixed up player names, referenced wrong teams, and had minor stumbles all of which drew media commentary.

Conclusion

Tom Brady’s inadvertent on-air slip during the Eagles vs. Cowboys game has drawn significant attention, not just because of what was said but because of who said it and in what context. While there’s no indication of malicious intent, the incident highlights the delicate nature of language in high-visibility broadcasting roles, the expectations placed on star analysts, and the fine line between a simple mispronunciation and a widely shared controversy.

FAQ related to Tom Brady on-air slip during Eagles vs Cowboys Game

Q1: Did Tom Brady actually use a racial slur?
A: There is no confirmation that Brady intentionally used a slur. He said a word that sounded like “nicker” and then immediately corrected himself. The context suggests mispronunciation rather than malicious intent.

Q2: Why did viewers think he said something offensive?
A: Because the word used phonetically resembled a well-known racial slur and the correction came very quickly, leading many viewers to believe the slur was almost uttered.

Q3: Was the player Brady referred to actually playing in the game?
A: No. Brady mentioned Landon Dickerson, who was not active in that Eagles-Cowboys game, creating an added layer of error in terms of accuracy.

Q4: Will this mistake affect Brady’s broadcasting job?
A: It could raise questions about his performance and professionalism, but there’s no public indication yet that FOX will change his role. It might prompt internal review or feedback rather than immediate job impact.

Q5: Can live-broadcast slips like this be avoided?
A: While broadcaster training and prep help, live TV is unpredictable, and voice errors, mispronunciations, and verbal slips will always be a risk. Networks often have delay systems and producers to mitigate major issues, but cannot eliminate all errors.