‘He Balled Out in the Biggest Game of the Year’ – Tom Brady Anoints 20-TD RB As ‘Star of the Week’ After Historic Week 18 Outing
Tom Brady is in the first year of his 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox. He has covered games alongside Kevin Burkhardt throughout the 2024 NFL season and has shown quick improvement as a broadcaster.
Ahead of the playoffs, Brady crowned some players as stars of Week 18. He selected Jahmyr Gibbs as the star running back, leading the Detroit Lions to an important 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Tom Brady Praised Jahmyr Gibbs for Week 18 Performance
The legendary NFL quarterback praised Gibbs for his performance in Week 18, which helped the Lions win the NFC North and seal the first seed in their conference. The 22-year-old running back rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. He also had five receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.
“My first star of the week goes to Jahmyr Gibbs,” said Brady. “He balled out in the biggest game of the year with 170 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. Jahmyr was the first Lion to lead the league in touchdowns since Barry Sanders; that’s incredible. What a season for Gibbs. The Lions, they locked up the number one seed in the NFC, way to go.”
Congrats to @TomBrady‘s 3 Stars of Week 18! ✨
First up, @Lions RB @Jahmyr_Gibbs1 🦁 pic.twitter.com/geHV8iaqCL
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 9, 2025
Gibbs and the Lions dominated the Vikings’ defense, which is among the best in the league. Detroit did that without David Montgomery, who has missed the last three games due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills.
There were concerns about how Gibbs would perform without Montgomery, but the second-year running back has proved that he is one of the best players at his position. In three games without Montgomery, Gibbs rushed for 365 yards and scored six touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He also had 13 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions drafted Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a promising rookie season, the Alabama product led the league in touchdowns (20) in his second year in the NFL. Montgomery will be back for the playoffs, and the Lions’ running back duo will play a huge role if the team is to win a Super Bowl.
Brady Will Play a Role in Selecting Antonio Pierce’s Replacement
Besides working for Fox, Brady is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The AFC West franchise recently fired Antonio Pierce and has started looking for his replacement.
Per Adam Schefter, Brady will play a role in the Raiders hiring the next head coach. Although it is not confirmed yet, the seven-time Super Bowl winner will also have an input on the players the franchise will select in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Raiders limited owner Tom Brady is expected to be part of a collaborative committee to interview head coaching candidates and support team owner Mark Davis, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/0xyl0kAYv3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2025
The Raiders finished with a record of 4-13 but won two of their last three games to end the season. These wins have cost the franchise the first overall pick and a chance to draft their favorite QB.
Las Vegas has the sixth overall pick in the upcoming draft and will be required to trade up if the franchise wants to get a quarterback. Sanders and Cam Ward are the two coveted quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, and they will likely hear their name called quite early.
Since the upcoming draft class is not quarterback-rich, the Raiders might pass on the opportunity to draft one. They might continue with Aidan O’Connell, or might look to bring in a veteran like Kirk Cousins to compete for QB1 next season.
