NFL icon Tom Brady has delivered a second, deeply apologetic message to the family of former Major League Baseball player and broadcaster Tim McCarver. This follows a significant error in Brady's weekly newsletter, where he paid tribute to McCarver as though his passing had just occurred, despite the fact the Hall of Fame analyst died in February 2023.
A Costly Proofreading Mistake
In his newsletter earlier this month, Brady wrote, 'The great Tim McCarver passed away last week.' He praised McCarver's legendary career as a lead analyst for Fox from 1996 to 2013, highlighting his insightful, analytical, and immensely likable broadcasting style during more than 20 World Series broadcasts. Brady reflected on McCarver's intangible qualities of greatness and leadership as he prepared for his own offseason self-assessment as a broadcaster.
However, just 35 minutes after the newsletter was distributed, a follow-up correction was sent to subscribers. It clarified McCarver's actual death date and attributed the embarrassing error to a 'proofreading mistake.'
Brady's Latest Mea Culpa
Now, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has doubled down on his apology. Starting his most recent newsletter, Brady wrote on Tuesday, 'Before we get into this week's newsletter, I want to take a moment to once again apologize to the McCarver family and all of Tim's friends and colleagues for the error in the last newsletter referencing his passing as if it had just occurred.'
He explained the origin of the mistake, stating, 'I had been reflecting on the anniversary of Tim's passing when I first began to write what became last week's newsletter, and through the editing and proofreading process, that key phrasing got cut and changed, and then wasn't caught in time. I feel badly about it, still.'
Brady emphasized taking full responsibility, saying, 'All of that said, there are no excuses. I built my career on doing the work, being prepared, executing at the highest level, and when we fall short, taking responsibility, learning from the mistakes, and doing better next time.' He affirmed this principle applies to his broadcasting career and newsletter efforts, acknowledging imperfection while committing to always do their best.
Remembering Tim McCarver's Legacy
Tim McCarver was an All-Star catcher who won two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals before transitioning to a storied broadcasting career. He called 24 World Series for networks including ABC, CBS, and Fox, famously partnering with Joe Buck for 18 years at Fox. McCarver is survived by his daughters Kathy and Kelley, and grandchildren Leigh and Beau.
Brady's Busy Offseason Continues
This apology comes amid a hectic offseason for Brady. Recently, he was part of a group of NFL stars who were humbled by Team USA's flag football stars in Los Angeles. Although his Founders FFC team lost both round robin games, the 48-year-old showed flashes of his old form, connecting with receiver Stefon Diggs for a touchdown and teaming up with former Patriots and Buccaneers teammate Rob Gronkowski for a two-point conversion.
The event was originally scheduled for Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but was relocated to BMO Stadium in Los Angeles due to geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Additionally, Brady is involved in the Las Vegas Raiders' rebuild as the NFL draft approaches, with expectations that the Raiders will select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
