The stage is set! The hype for this Super Bowl LIX is real as Caesars Superdome is all set to host the NFL titans Chiefs and Eagles for one final showdown. While the Super Bowl fever is on, one must give credit to the Fox crew for making this experience even better with their unreal coverage. On one side, we had legends like Terry Bradshaw, Michael Vick, and Rob Gronkowski providing top-tier game analysis, while Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson added their own touch of glamor to the broadcast. Unfortunately, just a day before the big game, one legend from the panel had to say goodbye, ending a 9-year journey with Fox NFL Sunday.
13 years, 22,464 pass yds, 133 TDs, plus a mind-blowing 6,109 rush yds with 36 rush TDs. These aren’t just stats—they’re the kind of figures that would make even the most reserved accountant do a victory jig. They remind us of that era when the gridiron was a stage for daring feats, and every yard gained felt like a scene straight out of “Field of Dreams.” Michael Vick, the very same dual-threat dynamo whose on-field artistry rewrote what it meant to be a quarterback, is now heading to Norfolk State Football for his next journey. As the former Eagles QB is looking forward to his coaching duties in Virginia, it made for a bittersweet last day at Fox HQ.
Michael Vick’s journey took another epic turn in Dec ’24 when he dropped the bomb on FOX Sports: he was trading his analyst mic for a coach’s headset, stepping in as head coach at Norfolk State Univ. in VA. At Norfolk State, a relatively young Historically Black College with nary a triumph at the FCS level, Vicks aims to start from scratch. “I understand the position that Norfolk State is in,” Vick said. “I understand where we are. Instead of watching them grow over two days, now I get to coach them each and every day with a great coaching staff who’s going to assist in making sure that these kids play their best brand of football.”
Meanwhile, back at FOX HQ, Charissa Thompson was keeping it 100. With her signature flair and a caption on her Instagram story that read, “Out here with my guys … walkthrough for tomorrows big day and @mikevick last day with us,” she set the tone for a poignant goodbye.
Since ’15, she’s been the glue holding FOX NFL Kickoff together, dishing out hot takes like Joey Tribbiani’s “How you doin’?”—only with more stats and less cheesecake. Her on-air chemistry with Vick, spanning interactive segments like “AskEmAnything,” made every Sunday feel like a prime-time sitcom crossover.
Vick’s departure from FOX, where he stirred up debates and dished out wisdom, marks the end of an era on that very network. As the 44-year-old is following the footsteps of Deion Sanders – Vick took Coach Prime’s advice to kickoff his coaching journey. “I reached out to Deion just to have a conversation with him,” Vick said in Dec 2024. “The conversation was more so about philosophy and the most important steps to get started. He reminded me I’d have a bunch of people pulling for me.”
As Vick bids farewell to Fox, it’s worth remembering how the legendary Terry Bradshaw—the OG host—helped him find his footing in broadcasting. And while Vicks’ farewell is sure emotional, are the Fox crew ready for another tough goodbye?
Terry Bradshaw’s exit soon?
On the flip side, Terry Bradshaw—the original NFL tough guy with a grin as wide as a touchdown celebration—has now reached his final quarter on FOX NFL Sunday. Born in ‘48 in Shreveport, Terry’s journey from Louisiana Tech to being the #1 overall pick and leading the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles is nothing short of legendary.
Bradshaw’s peak moments read like a greatest-hits mixtape: from the glory of Super Bowl IX and X to his MVP performances in XIII and XIV, his legacy is cemented in the NFL lore. Always one to mix humor with heart, he once quipped, “I told my wife before I left the room a while ago, I’m sitting there, I said, ‘I’ve got two yrs left at FOX. I’m 76’… If we can get to the next Super Bowl, I’ll be 80. That’s, I think that’s time.”
And in classic Bradshaw style, he joked, “I told Fox: ‘If I could just die on the show, think about the ratings, right?’”—a line that had fans laughing as hard as they cried. Now, with the FOX crew’s hearts heavier than a Hail Mary pass in overtime, emotions are running high. “It’s a young man’s game,” he sighs, sounding more Logan’s weary Wolverine than the cocky gunslinger who once slung touchdowns to Lynn Swann.
As veteran voices prepare to sign off and new legends step in, the blend of nostalgia and anticipation is palpable. It’s the kind of moment that feels ripped straight from the final episode of ‘The Office’ or that last bittersweet scene in ‘Cheers’—where everyone knows the good times are coming to an end, yet they’ll always be remembered. PXG next?
In this swirling mix of farewells and fresh beginnings, the legacy of these NFL giants—Vick’s transformative, highlight-reel brilliance and Bradshaw’s old-school, larger-than-life charm—continues to light up our screens and warm our hearts. So grab the tissues, NFL fans. Sunday’s not just about Mahomes and Hurts—it’s a love letter to legends walking away on their terms.
