NFL: Headset, coaches box within rules for Raiders owner Tom Brady

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When the owner calls, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly pick up, especially when the minority owner of the Raiders is Tom Brady.

Brady, approved as part of the ownership group in Las Vegas in October 2024, sat in the coaching box at the Raiders’ home stadium with a headset on Monday night. When the ESPN broadcast team for the “Monday Night Football” audience shared that Brady regularly discusses the game plan and film review with Kelly, Carroll was asked postgame if it’s true the seven-time Super Bowl champ meets with Kelly multiple times a week.

“That’s not accurate,” Carroll said. “That’s not accurate. That’s not accurate. We have conversations. I talk to Tom, Chip talks to Tom. Regularly. I mean, we have a tremendous asset. And so we all get along well, we respect each other. And so we talk about life and football and whatever it comes. And he has great insight. So we’re lucky to have him as an owner.”

The league reiterated on Tuesday there was no violation of NFL rules committed on Monday night by Brady’s presence in the box with coaches, and wearing a headset to listen in on team communication during the game is also above board.

“There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in the statement. “Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner. 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.”

NFL owners approved lighter measures for Brady to meet with other coaches and players in production meetings as part of his role with Fox. Those meetings are required to be remote when Brady is involved, as he’s not permitted to attend practices held at team facilities.

Brady will be on the broadcast team on Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys face the Chicago Bears, whom the Raiders play in Las Vegas the following week.

This past weekend, Brady was in Kansas City to broadcast the Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Those teams are also on the Raiders’ schedule this season.

In Week 1, Brady was part of Fox’s broadcast of the New York Giants’ game against the Washington Commanders, who will host the Raiders on Sunday.

Las Vegas lost 20-9 to the Chargers on Monday.

–Field Level Media