When Tom Brady bought a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFL quietly eased its ownership rules. This move immediately raised eyebrows. It signaled that Brady would not just be a ceremonial figurehead but someone who could actively shape the team’s culture. That narrative took off when Brady was seen in the Raiders’ coaching booth during Monday Night Football, wearing a headset. The sight didn’t sit well with the social media users, who suggested Vegas could be getting an unfair advantage.

Pete Carroll, who shocked many when he took over as the Raiders’ head coach, has been clear that Brady was a major factor in his decision. The Raiders HC admitted that he is trying to infuse Brady’s mentality in the locker room. But his OC Chip Kelly caused a roar by claiming he talked to the GOAT 2-3 times a week.

And now, amid the latest uproar, Carroll is doubling down and defending his owner’s involvement. “Yeah, that’s not accurate. That’s not accurate. That’s not accurate,” Carroll said about reports that Brady talks to Chip Kelly “two to three times a week.” He added, “We have conversations. I talk to Tom, Chip talks to Tom regularly. I mean, we have a tremendous upset. And so, we all get along well and respect each other. We just talk about life and football and whatever it comes. And he has great insight. So, we’re lucky to have him as an owner.”

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Carroll’s relationship with Tom Brady goes beyond casual check-ins. Earlier this May, he called Brady his “phone buddy” and raved about how much he enjoys talking philosophy with him. “Talking philosophy with Tom, you can imagine what a thrill it is,” Carroll said. “He’s the all-time competitor….We’re so eye-to-eye on that, it’s been a blast.”

This bond between Carroll and Brady might be the Raiders’ real secret weapon. Not play designs. Not headset moments. But a shared vision for what the franchise can become. And with Carroll welcoming Brady’s insight, it is clear that Brady is not just in the owner’s box. He is helping steer the ship.

NFL deletes Tom Brady video after backlash

The sight of the GOAT sitting in the booth with a headset on was refreshing for the Silver and the Black fans. The NFL itself briefly embraced the moment, posting the clip of Brady and Kelly working together on its official X account with the caption “.@TomBrady and @Raiders OC Chip Kelly work closely together to help with the game plan 👏.”

But moments later, that post was quietly deleted, a move that only intensified the backlash. Fans across the league blasted what they saw as an unfair advantage. “How is this still not a conflict of interest with his broadcasting duties and involvement as a partial owner who is actively coaching?” one fan wrote. Others were even more direct: “Gotta be a rule somewhere this breaks.”

The timing only adds fuel to the fire. Tom Brady has already called two games this season – Chiefs vs Eagles in Week 2 and Commanders vs Giants in Week 1 – both games featuring the teams that the Raiders will face later this year. And now, on September 21, he’s set to call Cowboys vs Bears. So, again, the issue here is that Las Vegas is scheduled to play Chicago in Week 4.

The NFL did relax the so-called “Brady Rules” in the offseason, allowing him to attend production meetings with teams he covers. But he remains barred from attending team practices, and nothing in those changes explicitly gave him permission to sit in the coaches’ box mid-game.

For now, the league and FOX Sports have stayed quiet. But with video evidence already circulating and fan anger not dying down, the NFL may soon have to clarify whether Brady crossed the line, or if this is simply the new reality of having a part-owner who still operates as one of the most plugged-in voices in football.