NRL to reach out to NFL legend Tom Brady as commentator for 2025 Las Vegas extravaganza

The NRL will reach out to seven-time winning NFL Super Bowl legend Tom Brady to commentate, with a Las Vegas match set to be broadcast to a historic 125 million US homes.

In the greatest broadcasting coup in Australian rugby league history, an NRL game in Las Vegas next season will be broadcast into 125 million US homes on America’s premier free-to-air FOX channel.

And in another stunning development, the NRL will reach out to seven-time winning NFL Super Bowl legend Tom Brady to help commentate the match.

In a mass exposure television triumph, the main FOX channel will show the NRL game between Canberra and the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium.

It is the first-time ever a rugby league match has been broadcast on a free-to-air network in the US.

This year’s two Las Vegas games were shown behind a paywall on FOX Sports 1, a subscription channel on the FOX network which shows Major-league Baseball, college sports and soccer.

FOX, which covers the NFL, is beamed into 125 million US homes.

The main FOX channel will show the NRL game between Canberra and the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium. Picture: NRL Photos

The NRL will now conduct top-level talks with FOX executives about Brady joining Australia’s commentary team.

Brady will start his ten-year, $375m post-career broadcasting career with FOX for this year’s NFL season, which starts in September.

“The visionary support we have had from FOX in the US and Australia for this venture has been truly remarkable,” said ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.

“Together we share the bold ambition for what is possible for rugby league in the US and across the world. Las Vegas in 2025 will give rugby league never-before-seen mass exposure in the US market, allowing us to showcase Super League, NRL and international athletes and win new fans.”

All this comes as tickets for the Las Vegas extravaganza go on sale to the general public from 9am on Friday.

The NRL will reach out to seven-time winning NFL Super Bowl legend Tom Brady to help commentate. Picture: Getty Images

Next year’s rugby league games will be split across the FOX network.

The second NRL match between Penrith and Cronulla, and Australia’s Jillaroos against England’s Lionesses, will be covered on FOX 1. Wigan’s match against Warrington will be moved to FOX’s Soccer Plus channel.

“We are grateful for the shared vision we have from FOX on the potential for rugby league in the US and the belief and backing for what will be a bigger, bolder and better festival of rugby league in Las Vegas 2025,” said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.

Brady’s chance of commentating an NRL game will increase given the NFL season will have concluded when the rugby league spectacular arrives in Nevada

(L-R) Ezra Mam, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy, Adam Reynolds, Pat Carrigan, Tom Brady, Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs. Picture: Cwolf Media

A New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar, Brady engaged in a speaking tour of Australia in January where he was filmed throwing a dart-like pass to Broncos star Reece Walsh in Brisbane.

The famous quarterback was later photographed with Walsh and Broncos teammates Adam Reynolds, Patrick Carrigan and Ezra Mam.

The Las Vegas quadruple-header will be played on Saturday, March 1 (local time) and broadcast live to Australia and New Zealand (Sunday, March 2).

This year’s inaugural Vegas double-header pulled a remarkable crowd of 40,746 with Warriors CEO Cameron George tipping a 65,000 NRL sellout in 2025.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am on Friday via nrl.com/vegas.

Las Vegas 2025 matches:

1 Super League – Wigan v Warrington 1:30pm PST/8:30am AEDT

2 NRL – Canberra v Warriors 4pm PST/11am AEDT

3 Australian Jillaroos v England Lionesses 6:15pm PST/1:15pm AEDT

4 NRL – Penrith v Cronulla 8:30pm PST/ 3:30pm AEDT

Originally published as NRL to reach out to NFL legend Tom Brady as commentator for 2025 Las Vegas extravaganza