More and more people are starting to speculate about Tom Brady’s involvement both as a Fox Sports NFL analyst and part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. This buzz intensified Monday night when Brady was seen in the Raiders’ coaching booth wearing a headset while they suffered a 20-9 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.
When questioned about the potential conflicts of interest that might arise from this situation, Eric Shanks, the CEO of Fox Sports, danced around the topic. During a recent event, he replied, “I’m not going to answer that one. Good question, but not gonna answer that.” He was responding to remarks related to how Chicago Bears fans might perceive Brady’s dual roles. Interestingly, Brady will be in Chicago this Sunday when the Bears face the Dallas Cowboys before they travel to the Raiders in the following week.
Shanks added, “If there’s a conversation that needs to happen after last night, we’ll have it.” Meanwhile, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy clarified in an email to the Associated Press that Brady’s presence in the booth was purely in his capacity as a limited partner with the Raiders.
McCarthy reassured that there are no rules stopping an owner from being in the coach’s booth or wearing a headset during games but mentioned that all personnel must comply with certain rules regarding the use of electronic devices, requiring them to rely solely on NFL-issued equipment.
Raiders head coach Pete Carroll confirmed he was aware of Brady being in the booth, noting that he was also present in a previous game this preseason against the San Francisco 49ers. Carroll acknowledged the attention and questions raised by Brady’s presence during the game.
He remarked, “Tom’s really tried to honor that strictly with the concerns you’re talking about. He is not planning games with us. He is not talking to us about anything other than random conversations which aren’t structured at all. He gets it and respects his other commitments.”
For those who may not know, Brady signed a massive 10-year, $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox Sports back in May 2022, while he was still playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Post-retirement after that season, he decided to spend 2023 taking a break before making his broadcasting debut. Just days before the Raiders match, he had called the Super Bowl matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
However, it’s still uncertain if Brady will appear at the Raiders’ remaining two prime-time games later in the season. The team has upcoming games at Denver on November 6, followed by a home game against Dallas on November 17.
The NFL had previously set limits on Brady’s ability to perform his analyst duties, though they have rolled back some of those restrictions this season. Now, Brady is allowed to take part in production meetings with teams, providing they are conducted virtually. Yet, he still faces limitations, such as not being permitted to observe other teams’ practices or step foot in their training facilities.
This season’s new rules were set in motion due to Brady’s 5% stake in the Raiders. Last year, he could not participate in production meetings until the Super Bowl, where he finally got to interact with players and coaches from both the Chiefs and Eagles, but he was still barred from attending practices.
During a recent interview, Brady didn’t touch on the easygoing relationship he now has with on-location broadcasts but instead shared his excitement about an upcoming flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Greg Olsen, who also spoke at the event, pointed out that it’s up to the teams how they want to conduct production meetings, regardless of Brady’s role. He explained, “Some teams are very secretive about their information, which not only applies to others like Brady but everyone. It ultimately relies on how they perceive information worth sharing.”
Fox’s television crew featuring Brady kicked off the season with an exciting game between the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants. Ironically, those teams will square off against the Raiders later on. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn seemed unbothered by the a mi xixture of Brady’s roles, simply saying, “It’s unique for sure, but they have a job to do too. So, from my perspective, I think about what the teams need to do individually to prepare for the game.”
Olsen, who was previously Fox’s leading NFL analyst, remarked that if he had the funds, he wouldn’t hesitate to grab a stake in a team. “I’m all for it. It only makes sense to utilize the assets and expertise someone like Tom Brady brings to an organization. He can seriously make a difference. Your chances of winning increase by having him involved.”
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AP Sports Writers Stephen Whyno in New York and Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this story.
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