Ben Johnson
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Ben Johnson did not seem concerned about talking with Tom Brady this week.
The cries about a conflict of interest are getting louder around the NFL in regards to Tom Brady’s dual roles of FOX analyst and Las Vegas Raiders minority owner.
Yet, when asked if he has any angst about speaking with Brady a week before the Chicago Bears take on Brady’s Raiders, coach Ben Johnson said he is not concerned about giving away state secrets.
Brady has owned a 5 percent stake in the Raiders since last year and has been the lead analyst on FOX’s NFL broadcasts since the start of the 2024 season.
Why Would The Bears Be Worried About Tom Brady?
Brady raised eyebrows when he was videoed in the Raiders coaches box with a headset on in their 20-9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football at Allegiant Stadium.
The clip drew the ire of pundits and forced the NFL to issue a statement absolving Brady of any wrongdoing — despite Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s comments that he and Brady talk “two-to-three times per week” and that they go over the week ahead’s game plan together.
The Bears (0-2) found themselves in the potential crosshairs, since Brady will be the lead analyst calling their Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys alongside Kevin Burkhardt and with Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews on FOX at Soldier Field.
Chicago will then play at Las Vegas in Week 4 against Brady’s Raiders, even though Brady is scheduled to be calling his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
What Did Ben Johnson Say About Tom Brady Calling Bears Games?
Brady has been banned from opposing-teams’ facilities and is required to do interviews remotely with players and coaches of the games he is calling to avoid any potential conflicts that may arise. But in its statement issued, the NFL said it was up to players and coaches to decide what they want to share with Brady in pregame meetings.
The latter is what concerns Johnson the least.
“I’m really not worried about it,” Johnson said. “I mean, we change week to week in terms of what we do. Schematically, he’s going to be able to turn on the tape and see what everyone else in the world is seeing right now.
“Personnel-wise, really the same thing. It’s not like I’m going to sit down with him and say, ‘Hey, don’t do this to Caleb Williams or you might get it!’ Like, 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.”
Johnson, of course, is a rookie head coach who is adjusting to more regular press availabilities than he had in his previous role as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Johnson said he has been overly careful already since taking over the Bears earlier this year.
“Man, I’ve been careful with everything I’ve said since the season started,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in pure coachspeak mode since this season has started. So to me, it’s just business as usual.
“I’m just fine. I like Tom, and we have a really good relationship.”