On Monday night, during the match between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders’ minority owner was spotted sitting in the coaches’ booth. It is not yet clear how involved he was and what conversations he had. But his actions in the booth have raised several eyebrows.

Tom Brady was seen wearing a headset and had a tablet in front of him, just like the other members of the coaching staff. It looked ethically wrong, and while speculations were there that the NFL might take action, it doesn’t look like it’s going that way. An NFL spokesperson has made it clear. “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.” 

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy gave this statement and a green light to Brady’s actions last Monday. He not only revealed the NFL’s stand on Brady, but he also explained what Brady is not allowed to do: “prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings.” McCarthy said. He also explained, “Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner”. Now, regarding the use of tablets and headsets that set the NFL realm ablaze, McCarthy explained the NFL’s rule regarding this aspect as well.

“All personnel sitting in the booth must abide by policies that prohibit the use of electronic devices other than league-issued equipment, such as a Microsoft Surface Tablet for the Sideline Viewing System.” McCarthy made it clear.

The news of Brady sitting in the coaching room was further fueled by ESPN’s Peter Schrager‘s comment in the same match. Just six minutes into the match, and Peter Schrager, reporting from the sideline, voiced that Raiders minority owner and Fox analyst Tom Brady meets two or three times a week.

“They go through film. They go through the game plan,” Schrager said. “And Brady is a luxury for the coaches. Who else has an owner who has been there and done that?”. But Raiders HC, Pete Carroll, disputed the two or three times meeting statement, calling it “not accurate.” And when the live footage of Brady sitting in the coach box was seen by Broadcasters Chris Fowler and Dan Orlovsky, the latter commented, “It seems he’s very involved.”

Brady’s current arrangement has put him in a weird spot. It’s because, as Fox’s game analyst, Brady is expected to cover the other 31 teams as well. And these teams will be facing the Raiders during the NFL season. Although a couple of changes in the rule have given Brady some relief.

The big league makes some amendments for Brady 

Last year, Brady made his FOX analyst debut with a 10-year contract. He entered the season with limitations, mainly because of an agreement to become a partial owner of the Raiders. He was restricted from attending both virtual and production meetings. And was also limited from excessively criticizing other teams and officials, and from witnessing team practices.

But the NFL changed some of these Brady rules for the 2025 NFL season. The recently relaxed rules allow him to attend production meetings with teams and coaches. But he should attend those meetings remotely. All other restrictions on Brady are still intact.

Brady’s appearance in the coaching booth is just a glimpse of what’s about to come, as we are just in Week 3 of a long NFL season. Given that Tom Brady has also announced to play in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in March 2026 in Saudi Arabia, it’s clear that he has his eggs in a few too many baskets.