The NFL could be tightening the reins even further on Tom Brady’s broadcasting career, and the retired quarterback might have a recent interview with Patrick Mahomes to blame. Brady, an NFL legend and seven-time Super Bowl champion, is in the first year of a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox Sports as an analyst.
However, his transition from the field to the broadcasting booth has been anything but smooth. The 47-year-old has faced mixed reviews for his on-air performance, especially following a heavily criticized debut.
Things became even more complicated for Brady last month when he was officially approved as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The move led the NFL to impose several restrictions on his broadcasting activities, which significantly impacted his work with Fox.
Now, Brady could face even more challenges after franchise owners reportedly raised concerns over a recent interview he conducted with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The interview, which took place ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rematch against the San Francisco 49ers, was broadcast on Fox last month.
Though the conversation between Brady and Mahomes was mostly personal and did not delve into competitive or strategic information, some insiders have expressed concerns that it could have put Brady in a position to gain sensitive information about the Chiefs—a direct divisional rival of the Raiders, in which he has a financial stake—according to a report from Sports Business Journal.
The concerns were reportedly raised during a meeting of the NFL finance committee, where some franchise owners discussed their unease regarding Brady’s continued involvement in player interviews. They were also reportedly asked whether additional conditions should be established to prevent Brady from accessing information he shouldn’t have as a Raiders minority owner.
According to sources cited by Sports Business Journal, the discussions were open-ended, but potential new restrictions were outlined. These include:
- Limiting Brady’s interactions with players to live or recorded interviews for broadcast only, ensuring that the content of these conversations is public and transparent.
- Prohibiting private, one-on-one interactions with players before or after the broadcast component, minimizing the risk of sensitive information being shared.
- Requiring interviews with players to take place outside of team facilities and possibly even away from team hotels.
- Mandating prior approval and oversight by both the league and the players’ teams to ensure that all interviews comply with NFL regulations.
R
Brady initially agreed to become a minority owner of the Raiders in May 2023. However, his deal to acquire a 10 percent stake was delayed due to concerns among other NFL owners regarding the terms of his purchase and his simultaneous role as an analyst for Fox Sports.
Now that he has officially joined the Raiders as a limited partner, Brady faces a range of restrictions designed to prevent any potential conflicts of interest.
As a minority owner, Brady is prohibited from participating in in-person or virtual broadcast production meetings, and he is not allowed to access team facilities, players, or coaches—privileges that are typically extended to Fox and other networks.
Additionally, Brady must be careful about what he says during broadcasts, as NFL bylaws prohibit public criticism of officials and other teams. These restrictions add an extra layer of complexity to Brady’s role as an analyst and could significantly limit his ability to perform his job effectively.
Brady’s ownership stake in the Raiders also marks the official end of any potential return to the field, as active players are prohibited by the Collective Bargaining Agreement from investing in or owning NFL teams. Despite officially retiring over 18 months ago, Brady has frequently been linked to a possible return, most recently with the Miami Dolphins. His new role as a part-owner effectively closes that chapter for good.
The restrictions placed on Brady have sparked concern among fans, with many taking to social media to argue that these limitations make his role as a broadcaster redundant.
While these restrictions have been in place since the beginning of his broadcasting career due to his pending ownership bid, some fans are now suggesting that Fox should have the right to terminate Brady’s contract altogether.
NFL insiders have also weighed in on the potential impact of these restrictions on Brady’s future in broadcasting. Some believe that the limitations could drain his passion for the role.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently discussed the situation on John Ourand’s “The Varsity” podcast, saying, “There’s an interesting theory making the rounds in league circles because there have been teams that have said to the league, ‘We want Tom Brady to be involved in the production meetings.’ And through that push and pull, the league has consistently said no. No exceptions, even if waived.”
RELATED: Tom Brady Shares Why He Feels Bad for His Two Sons
Florio added, “There’s been a sense that maybe Brady doesn’t really want to do it anyway. You think of how thinly he’s spread—all the different things he’s doing. It may not be that he wants to be the absolute best at everything he does. It may just be that he wants us to think he’s the absolute best at everything he does, while he’s making appearances and raking in the money.”
“Him being an owner and a broadcaster—I think it keeps him from being the absolute best he could be,” Florio continued. “It just always seemed beneath him—he’s Tom Brady. I just wonder how many years he’ll continue to do it.”
The increasing restrictions and ongoing questions about Brady’s future as a broadcaster highlight the complexities that arise when an all-time great transitions from playing to analyzing the game.
For now, Brady remains committed to his contract with Fox, but with the growing limitations imposed by his ownership role, the future of his broadcasting career is far from certain.
