The NFL is giving its stamp of approval to former quarterback Tom Brady working in the Las Vegas Raiders coaching box despite his role as a Fox Sports broadcaster.
Brady was spotted wearing a headset in the Raiders’ box on Monday night during the team’s 20-9 Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
In a statement provided to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL said: “There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game. Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.”
The league continued, per Pelissero: “Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings. He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel. He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcast teams, it’s up to the club, coach or players to determine what they say in those sessions.”
The NFL announced limitations on Brady’s access to teams after approving his bid to buy a minority stake in the Raiders last October, but relaxed some of those restrictions ahead of the 2025 season.
Brady was not allowed to attend Fox production meetings with teams during the 2024 season.
He told reporters in February that his limitations hadn’t impacted him “from a research standpoint” because he listened to team’s weekly press conferences.
The NFL then changed the rules to allow Brady to attend production meetings virtually this season, The Associated Press’ Joe Reedy reported in August.
Brady still is not allowed to attend other teams’ practices or enter other teams’ training complex, according to Reedy.
These limitations are reportedly not stopping Brady from playing a role in how the Raiders build their offense.
Sideline reporter Peter Schrager said during Monday night’s game that Brady speaks with Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly two to three times per week (h/t NBC Sports’ Mike Florio).
Raiders coach Pete Carroll was then asked after the game about a report that Brady “meets three times a week or so with Chip Kelly, goes over film with him.”
“That’s not accurate,” Carroll answered. “We have conversations. I talk to Tom, Chip talks to Tom regularly. We have a tremendous asset… we just talk about life, and football, and whatever it comes, and he has great insight. So, we’re lucky to have him as an owner.”
Brady is set to resume his work with Fox on Sunday by calling a Week 3 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, which takes place seven days before the Bears take on the Raiders in Week 4.
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