Radio host Craig Carton questioned NFL on FOX analyst Tom Brady’s involvement in the Las Vegas Raiders’ coaching operations, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest between his role as a broadcaster and minority team owner. Tom Brady was spotted in the team’s coaching booth Monday night during the first quarter of Las Vegas’ 20-9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Brady, wearing a headset during the telecast, has served as a resource for the Raiders since being approved as a minority owner last year, according to multiple team coaches. His appearance in the booth marked the first time he was publicly seen in that capacity.
With Brady set to broadcast the Raiders’ game against the Chicago Bears in two weeks, Carton addressed his concerns on The Craig Carton Show with Brady’s involvement in the coaches booth as well as a broadcaster.
“Tom Brady is now going to sit down in a meeting room with Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears, and Kayla Williams and DJ Moore and all those guys. He’s going to understand their thought process of how they run their offense. What they like to do on defense, he’s going to break it down. That’s his job for FOX,” said Carton. “Fast forward to last night and you see him in the coach’s box with the headset on. The report comes out that as minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He also talks to their offensive coordinator Chip Kelly two or three times a week to game plan for the next opponent… If that’s not a problem for the NFL, then why do we make such a big deal about Spygate?”
Brady retired after a 23-year career and debuted on FOX last season under a 10-year, $375 million contract originally agreed to in 2022. Limitations were placed on him due to his partial ownership of the Raiders. A deal approved by NFL owners in October of last year.
This season, the league has eased some restrictions on his broadcast duties, allowing him to join production meetings remotely. These meetings, where broadcast crews confer with a game’s head coaches and key players, are now open to Brady. Though he is still barred from attending team practices.
Carton further questioned whether the league truly prioritizes the integrity of competition. “If the NFL is not concerned about an owner or representative of a team getting inside information that will make it easier to prepare for each week’s opponent. Then why did we go bats**t crazy over Spygate? Why was that such a big deal? Why were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and the Patriots fined? Why were there suspensions? Because either you care about the integrity of the league, and you don’t.”
Highlighting the standard practice of broadcasters meeting with teams before games. Carton acknowledged its purpose in informing audiences but warned of the potential pitfalls when conflicts arise.
“It’s part of the NFL broadcasting contract that the announcers get to sit down to get insight to make the broadcast more informed. And I love that John Madden started it, and now it’s great because we learn as fans,” said Carton. “If one of those announcers is now going to pivot and turn around and go to the guy that he employs because he owns the franchise and tells him this is what the Bears like to do…you have now created an unfair, unbalanced playing field. I don’t know how it’s tolerated. I really don’t.”
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Thank you, Mr Carton. I’m glad someone else with a voice as noticed. I’ve grown to admire Tom Brady’s accomplishments as a player even after his exploits have hurt my favorite team.
But for him to be in the Raiders’ coaching box, to hear about Chip Kelly praising his input and for him being allowed to be part owner while he’s on Fox Sports, continue to be outrageous affronts — to the integrity of the game and to sports broadcasting, too. It’s also shocking that team owners are OK with it.