NFL Commissioner’s office has long attempted to resolve potential conflicts for Tom Brady, a key member of Fox’s No. 1 broadcast team, as he joins the Raiders’ coaching search process. The issue arises when Brady will be called upon to commentate on playoff games involving teams that have interviewed candidates Brady is also assessing.
Raiders owner Mark Davis recently sold a limited ownership stake to Brady, but his day job with Fox creates a clear conflict of interest. Despite initial restrictions, Brady can now participate in coaching searches and potentially call games involving assistant coaches he’s interviewing. This creates an uncomfortable situation, as it blurs the lines between his role as a color commentator and Raiders owner.
Fox has NFL playoff games scheduled, including potential matchups featuring teams that have interviewed Raiders candidates. If one of these candidates becomes part of Super Bowl LIX, Brady will be in the booth with them, raising questions about whether he can remain impartial in his commentary. The situation is reminiscent of when Brady was initially approved for his Raiders ownership stake, with the NFL putting measures in place to mitigate potential conflicts.
The Raiders have reportedly requested interviews with Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, among other candidates. If Brady were to call a Lions game involving Johnson’s offense, it could create an appearance of favoritism. The NFL must now navigate this issue, as it did when Brady was first approved for his ownership stake.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-will-be-part-of-raiders-coaching-search-while-calling-playoffs-and-super-bowl-for-fox-213946354.html