Tom Brady Mark Davis Raiders NFL
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Mark Davis and Tom Brady laugh as they attend Game One of the 2023 WNBA Finals between the Aces and the Liberty on October 08, 2023.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Tom Brady’s presence in the Raiders’ coaching booth during Las Vegas’s Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers was problematic to many fans.
Even longtime NFL commentators took issue with Brady’s presence in the coaching booth.
“Wait, Raiders owner Tom Brady is sitting in the coaching box with a headset & ESPN says he talks often during the week to O.C. Chip Kelly???” Skip Bayless wrote on X. “How can the NFL allow Brady to even remotely interview players/coaches of other teams as part of his Fox prep? This is just wrong.”
Wait, Raiders owner Tom Brady is sitting in the coaching box with a headset & ESPN says he talks often during the week to O.C. Chip Kelly??? How can the NFL allow Brady to even remotely interview players/coaches of other teams as part of his Fox prep? This is just wrong.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 16, 2025
The issues with Brady stem from his dual responsibilities as minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Fox color analyst for NFL games.
As part of his broadcasting duties, Brady gets access to opposing teams and players for information gathering in a capacity that no other NFL owner has the privilege of experiencing.
Fans and analysts alike are worried that Brady will gain access to compromising information on opposing teams. He could then, they argue, relay that to Raiders coaches to help them win games.
In a statement released on Tuesday September 16, 2025, the NFL clarified that Brady is not breaking any rules by being in the coaches booth.
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in the statement (h/t ESPN). “Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.”
What Can Brady Not Do?
There are some measures that the NFL has taken to ensure that the Raiders do not gain a competitive advantage via Brady.
The NFL prohibits Brady from going to opposing teams’ facilities basically at all, especially for practices or production meetings.
The NFL is allowing Brady to participate in FOX’s production meetings this year, which is new. He was not allowed to participate in those meetings in 2024.
However, Brady must participate remotely. And if he conducts any interviews with players, he must do them offsite and not at an opposing team’s facility.
The NFL also reminded everyone that Brady is not allowed to use any electronic devices in the coaches’ booth outside of league-issued equipment.
What Have Raiders Coaches Said About Brady’s Involvement?
The information coming from Raiders’ brass about Brady’s involvement is somewhat contradictory.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly reportedly told ESPN that he speaks with Brady two or three times a week, and they watch film and discuss the game plan for the week.
But Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said Monday the report that Brady and Kelly speak about the game plan multiple times per week is not accurate.
Carroll also said On Tuesday September 16, 2025 that Brady is not planning games with the Raiders’ coaching staff.
“He’s not talking to us about anything other than our conversations we have that are really random,” Carroll said. “They are not set up. They’re not structured in any way. He knows — he’s been very respectful of what he does, otherwise. He’s of the opinion that he doesn’t want to be that kind of factor, so he’s not.”
Are the Raiders covering something up? Or is Pete Carroll just nervous that saying the wrong thing could draw suspicions from fans and the media?
This Sunday, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady will call America's Game of the Week on Fox when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Chicago Bears.
Chicago's Week 4 opponent? Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/kY4UhaIIZb
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 16, 2025
Brady’s involvement with the Raiders is truly an unprecedented, interesting situation.