“He’s Tom Brady, I’m Kevin Burkhardt and you’re a sportscaster, how about that?” So began seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady’s debut on Fox Sports Sunday, a $375 million return to football that Fox heavily promoted as Brady’s “back to work.”

“It’s been quite a journey,” Brady told Burkhardt, microphone in hand and a big smile on his face, “but I love being your partner.” The two then launched into commentary on the Dallas Cowboys-Cleveland Browns matchup, while viewers on social media commented on the former quarterback’s first day in the new job.

“Tom Brady hasn’t looked this uncomfortable since the game against the Giants in the Super Bowl,” joked The athlete‘s Jake Ciely in a post on X, where Brady’s debut drew an unsurprising barrage of jokes and criticism as Brady attempted to share his knowledge of the game while making it clear and understandable for viewers who have never played in the NFL.

In a moment that highlighted Brady’s awkwardness in transitioning from effortless brilliance on the field to a man still learning the ropes of live television, Brady attempted a fist bump with Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira, who initially seemed oblivious to – or uninterested in – Brady’s presence in the commentary booth:

Stepping into a new job for the first time is never easy, especially when you’re as mega-famous as Brady, and the new job not only involves providing insight and analysis of a live game, but also trying to appear natural and completely relaxed in front of the camera.

But Brady had barely made an effort when criticism began to mount: One viewer said the NFL star was “absolutely awful in the locker room,” while another said, “Maybe someone should have actually listened to Tom Brady before spending $300 million on him.”

Some critics seemed to think Brady doesn’t have the classic broadcast voice, while others criticized him for his analysis. “Tom Brady can’t seem to form sentences that have any normal rhythm,” one viewer posted on X.

Another amateur commentator summed up Brady’s debut – before halftime – as follows: “I don’t want to overreact to Week 1, but Tom Brady is the worst commentator in the NFL.”

Others were willing to give Brady a chance, including NFL Network reporter Jane Slater, who said, “I like Tom Brady in the locker room. That’s smart. He doesn’t rush or yell in fake excitement. He lets Kevin talk and then steps in. Simple, smart decision. Just my two cents.”