NFL fans were aghast at Tom Brady sitting in the coaches’ booth talking to Raiders assistant coach Chip Kelly merely a day after calling a game for the Chiefs and Eagles on FOX. For one former NFL quarterback turned broadcaster, it was “B.S.” that has to stop.
On Tuesday’s edition of Boomer & Gio, former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason lambasted Brady and the NFL for allowing Brady to have such close conversations with all of the Raiders’ movers and shakers. He demanded to know how Brady could possibly be an objective voice on FOX when he’s so close to the team like that.
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“The fact that he’s sitting in the Raiders’ coaches’ box with a headset on and talking to Pete Carroll, talking to (Jon) Spytek, their general manager, talking to their offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, is complete and utter B.S.,” Esiason said. “Because the NFL is the ultimate competitive place. And you’re allowing a guy to sit there, who’s a part-owner of a team, which is fine, and now he’s involved in these game plans.”
“I know he’s going to try and be objective, but how can he be objective when he’s in this situation?” he continued. “And why are they allowing this?”
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“Conflict of Interest”
Esiason took the conversation a step further, declaring that “the conflict of interest is startling” and that Brady’s presence in both a front office and as a broadcaster goes against what the NFL is supposed to be about. He believes that Brady appears “insulated” from being punished or removed from any of his positions.
“I’m sorry. As much respect as I can have for a player and have had for a player, in this regard, this completely goes against what the NFL is all about,” Esiason said. “Because the NFL, it’s the ultimate competition. These guys are going to get fired. Guys get fired, they lose jobs. This guy seems to be insulated for some reason. And I understand why he’s insulated. He’s good for the league, I get it. But again, the conflict of interest is startling.”
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 25: Former Cincinnati Bengals player Boomer Esiason walks across the field at halftime of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on September 25, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Dylan Buell/Getty Images
But NFL owners are well aware of all of this and seem okay with it.
Brady had already inked his deal with FOX well before he was approved by the league to buy a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders. The fact that the deal was approved anyway with the league owners knowing that Brady would be pulling double duty indicates very strongly that they simply did not care or were not bothered enough to turn down Brady’s money.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.