Tom Brady caused a stir after he was spotted wearing a headset during the Las Vegas Raiders game - the team of which he is a partial owner.
Is Tom Brady allowed to be in the Raiders’ coaches booth? What the Fox Sports commentator can and can’t do
Tom Brady has been spotted doing plenty of unusual things since he retired, but wearing a headset in the Raiders’ coaching booth during Monday Night Football might top the list.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and a lead broadcaster for Fox, was shown on the ESPN broadcast with a headset on during the team’s 20–9 loss to the Chargers. Naturally, fans did a double-take: was Brady actually helping call plays?
Tom Brady’s headset moment with Raiders sparks confusion
The NFL quickly clarified that Brady didn’t do anything wrong. League spokesman Brian McCarthy explained that there’s no rule preventing an owner from sitting in the booth or even wearing a headset, so long as they’re only using league-issued equipment. Brady, the league insisted, was just sitting in as a limited partner.
“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” the NFL said in a statement. “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.”
Still, the optics were strange. Brady straddles two unique roles - part-owner of the Raiders and the NFL’s highest-profile broadcaster. That dual identity has already created some restrictions, such as barring him from in-person production meetings or team practices.
Raiders coach Pete Carroll tried to downplay the situation, saying Brady isn’t involved in game-planning and that any conversations they have are casual, not strategic. “He’s been very respectful,” Carroll said.
Even so, watching Tom Brady, of all people, plugged into a headset while his team struggled on the field was a surreal sight, even if the NFL has no problem with it.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.