Brady reportedly took an active role in recruiting Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to interview for the Raiders’ head coach opening.
Despite his involvement in the Las Vegas Raiders‘ head coaching search as a part-owner of the team, Tom Brady will stay in his role as Fox’s No. 1 NFL game analyst, according to his agent.
Don Yee told Sports Business Journal that Brady intends to fulfill the 10-year $375 million contract he has with Fox Sports. He’ll have nine years remaining on that deal after this season.
“Tom has had a tremendous amount of fun working with Fox this year, and he’s really excited about the future with Fox and his growth on their team,” Yee said to SBJ’s Ben Fischer. “And this year was the first year of a long relationship.”
Brady’s involvement in the Raiders’ coaching search presents a conflict of interest with he and play-by-play partner Kevin Burkhardt calling Saturday’s divisional round playoff game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions. If the Lions advance to the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl, Brady and Burkhardt will broadcast those matchups as well.
The Raiders have interviewed Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as part of their coaching search. Brady reportedly took an active role in recruiting Johnson to interview for the position.
As part of rules put in place by the NFL when he took an ownership stake in the Raiders, Brady is not allowed into another team’s facility. Nor is he permitted to attend other teams’ practices or participate in production meetings with coaches, players and executives of any team whose game he’s calling.
Yet as Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab detailed, Brady’s providing analysis for a Lions game that Johnson is coaching raises several questions:
“How is Brady supposed to call a game without making any mention of Johnson and his offense? Would Brady be honest if he believes Johnson’s game plan is flawed? That’s part of being a color commentator. It’s almost impossible for Brady to call a game without some of his comments looking like he’s blurring the lines between Fox announcer and Raiders limited owner.”
Other teams competing to hire the Lions’ offensive coordinator would have valid concerns that Brady — and thus, the Raiders — would gain an advantage by providing analysis and possible praise over Johnson’s schemes.
Fox apparently doesn’t view Brady’s perceived conflict as an issue. Nor do Brady and his representation, considering the stated intention to fulfill his contract. Whether Brady’s commentary during Fox’s broadcast on Saturday eases or continues concerns will continue to be a subplot, possibly for the next month.
