Tom Brady’s dual role as minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and primary NFL color commentator for Fox continues to raise ethical questions.
After broadcasting Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, Brady was spotted on the broadcast sitting in the Raiders’ coaches box and wearing a headset during Monday’s 20-9 home loss to the Chargers.
Antonio Pierce, who served as the Raiders’ head coach in 2024 after taking over as the interim in 2023, further called the ethics of the conundrum into question in a recent radio appearance.
“This is unprecedented, what we’re seeing,” Pierce told Adam Schein of SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio. “I think I would be uncomfortable if it was the other way around, to be honest with you. Because you’re not dealing with just a normal person. Tom Brady is the elite of the elite, one of the greatest quarterbacks, one of the greatest players in the game, played against him obviously, student of the game.
“It’s not hard for him to watch a few things on a Friday practice or hear things in a production meeting and be like, ‘Hmm,’ and have tidbits. And you’d be foolish enough to think that he’s not gonna share that with the Raiders because we had those conversations about certain things.”
The NFL released a statement Tuesday confirming that Brady is not breaking any rules of his dual-role agreement by sitting in the coaches box during a game.
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” the league said via statement. “Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner. All personnel sitting in the booth must abide by policies that prohibit the use of electronic devices other than league-issued equipment such as a Microsoft Surface Tablet for the Sideline Viewing System.”
After signing a 10-year deal with Fox while still an active player in 2022, Brady began his broadcasting career last season with some restrictions. Because of his Raiders ownership stake, he was not allowed to attend in-person or online broadcast production meetings and was not able to visit other teams’ facilities.
Traditionally, broadcasters use those meetings to talk to coaches and gain intel about the state of the roster ahead of that week’s game.
Brady has been allowed to start attending remote production meetings this season.
With Brady set to be on the call for Sunday’s Chicago-Dallas game — one week before the Raiders host Chicago — Bears coach Ben Johnson made it clear Wednesday that he isn’t bothered by the arrangement.
“I’m really not worried about it,” Johnson said. ” … There’s not going to be any trade secrets that are going to be exchanged. But I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest with you.”
Pierce, though, remains convinced otherwise.
“I think everybody’s gonna give you the political answer and say, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal,'” Pierce said. “I’m calling BS on that because if me and you was to call the game, they’ll be secretive with us. Now you got a guy who’s a minority owner, a great player, you know he understands the game, you know he sees the game. He has obviously an interest in the Raiders.
“So I just think it’s unprecedented. We haven’t seen it. Again, I don’t want to talk above my means. I don’t know what the NFL has set for Tom Brady and his rules, but I know he was a great asset for us with the Raiders when I was there. And I think he’ll still be a great asset as he’s going forward and I think this does help him out, and the Raiders.”
