I’m not usually in the business of defending Tom Brady, but in this case, he’s got a point: People need to stop bitching about the idea that his job as a TV analyst gives him an unfair advantage in his other job as part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The same goes for anyone who’s got a problem with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman calling “Monday Night Football” games and serving as a consultant for the Miami Dolphins.
The issue came up last week, when the NFL acknowledged that it will apply the same team-access restrictions to Aikman that it’s had in place for Brady. Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, was brought in by the Miami Dolphins in January as a consultant. Aikman played a role in the hiring of new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, and the Dolphins decided to keep the relationship going. Therefore, the Tom Brady treatment.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy clarified the situation in an email to Front Office Sports:
“There have been no issues with Tom over the last two seasons. It is up to the coaches and clubs what they share with him. If they share information they shouldn’t, then that’s on them. The same parameters that pertained to Tom last season will continue this year and also will apply to Troy.
“Both may attend production meetings virtually but will have no access to practice facilities or practices. They may conduct interviews outside team facilities with football personnel and players. They could conduct the interview at the team hotel in an area separate from other football personnel. They could broadcast games involving their own club.”
First off, just because Brady and Aikman both are multiple Super Bowl champions doesn’t mean they’re going to be great football executives. Look no further than Matt Millen as a prime example.
Millen won four Super Bowls in 12 seasons as an NFL linebacker, then became one of the best NFL TV and radio analysts of the 1990s. In addition to playing for three Hall of Fame coaches (Tom Flores, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs), Millen figured he could mix in all he learned from his nearly 10 years in the booth and take it to the front office.
In 2001, Millen was hired as president and CEO of the Detroit Lions. Somehow, he lasted seven seasons in Detroit. The Lions record under his watch: 31-81.
As for Brady and Aikman working for teams during their broadcasting careers, well, how’s that worked out so far?
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With Brady taking an active role in team decisions, the Raiders hired Pete Carroll as head coach last year. Carroll, who turned 74 two weeks into the 2025 season, led the Raiders to a 3-14 record and was fired in January.
You would have thought Brady’s experience working for Fox Sports would have given him some leads and firsthand contact with a newer generation of head-coaching candidates. Maybe he backed Carroll as a way of saying thanks for not handing off the football to Marshawn Lynch at the end of Super Bowl XLIX.
Brady is entering his third season with Fox. I thought he improved immensely last season, becoming more conversational while sharing anecdotes from his playing days and educating fans on the X’s and O’s. As the NFL has pointed out, coaches and players he is covering are under no obligation to share any information they think might give Brady an edge in his role with the Raiders.
And as Aikman has pointed out when questioned about his situation, having an official capacity with a team isn’t that much different than just having a good relationship with the team you used to play for.
Aikman is still closely connected with the Cowboys; he doesn’t have to be on the payroll if he wanted to slip Jerry Jones some info that might help the team. Fox broadcaster Greg Olsen is still pretty tight with the Carolina Panthers. What if he gained some insight working a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game that could help his former team? J.J. Watt, who could be the next great player-turned-analyst, will be part of CBS Sports’ No. 1 team at least as long as Tony Romo is sidelined. That means Watt, who is still close with the Houston Texans, will likely be calling some important AFC South games this season.
I’m not saying any of these guys are going to use information they’ve gathered to give anyone an unfair advantage. Yes, Tom Brady has a reputation as a fierce competitor who’d do what it takes to win games (Deflate-gate anyone?). That’s why it’s up to the teams he’s covering to think before they talk. As the league notes, it’s up to the teams to decide what they want to share.
A good analyst does not need inside information to call a good game. And if you think teams are giving Brady and Aikman inside information that will help the teams they work for, think again.
