Tom Brady wears many hats these days.
He holds an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. He's the No. 1 NFL broadcast color commentator for Fox. And apparently, he hangs out in the Raiders' coaching booth.
It's that last bit that has social media up in arms after Brady was shown with a headset on with the other Raiders' coaches during the Monday Night Football broadcast on ESPN.
Brady is allowed to speak with other teams' coaches during the week as part of his preparation for his Fox broadcasts.
Is it fair that he's then also allowed to help the Raiders' coaches during games?
MORE: Josh Allen learns that sometimes, it's OK for Superman to be Clark Kent
For example, Brady just had the Washington Commanders on Fox in Week 1. And the Raiders play the Commanders in Week 3. If he gleaned any insight at all from his role as a broadcaster, that winds up looking like an unfair advantage for Brady over every other coach wearing a headset across the NFL.
"A retired coach called tonight saying same thing," The Athletic's Mike Sando wrote on X. "He can’t believe it’s allowed."
This is such a ridiculous conflict of interest.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) September 16, 2025
Brady was just calling the Commanders game last week. Got tons of behind the scenes access. But he can just be in the coaching booth when they play in WSH next week?
How is this allowed? It’s nuts. pic.twitter.com/WTHp3X6H0E
MORE: Revisit Derrick Henry's absolutely unfathomable high school stats
The NFL had put pretty strict restrictions on Brady in 2024, his first year as a Fox broadcaster, to try and avoid any potential controversy. The league loosened those restrictions somewhat this year.
Maybe the Raiders ought to have at least considered the optics of having Brady up there with the coaches and a headset. But now that it's circulating, it'll be interesting to see if any further guidance is provided by the league or its TV partners.
For now, social media will just stay riled up, and we'll see if anything comes of it.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- Seahawks score an unprecedented kickoff touchdown that you've never seen before
- Dolphins, Patriots combine for history not done since Deion Sanders and Desmond Howard
- Vikings' last-minute Carson Wentz decision just became very important
- Ravens wanted to draft Shedeur Sanders, but he told them no
- Bears' QB Caleb Williams made a promise to his punter, but he hasn't kept his word
- Mac Jones might change the 49ers' plans for Brock Purdy