Ben Johnson Dismisses Concerns Over Tom Brady’s Dual Roles

As the Bears prepare to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, head coach Ben Johnson downplayed concerns about meeting with Fox broadcaster Tom Brady before the game. Brady, who also owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, has sparked debate about a potential conflict of interest.

“I’m really not worried about it,” Johnson said, per ESPN. “We change week to week in terms of what we do. Schematically, he’s going to be able to turn on the tape and see what everyone else in the world is seeing right now. It’s not like I’m going to sit down with him and say, ‘Hey, don’t do this to Caleb Williams or you might get it!’ There aren’t going to be any trade secrets exchanged.”

Brady’s Presence Raises League-Wide Questions

The controversy grew after Brady was spotted wearing a headset in the Raiders’ coaches’ booth during their Week 2 loss to the Chargers. His visibility on the sideline while also working for Fox raised questions about whether his access could create an unfair advantage.

The NFL issued a statement clearing Brady of wrongdoing, stressing that while he can remotely attend production meetings, the league prohibits him from entering team facilities for practices or production sessions. He is, however, permitted to conduct off-site interviews with players.

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

Coaches Downplay the Issue

Johnson isn’t the only coach brushing off the potential conflict. Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, whose team plays Las Vegas later this season, joked that he won’t be revealing any trade secrets to Brady either.

“Hey look, everybody has everybody’s playbooks,” Schottenheimer said. “Everybody knows somebody that knows somebody that’s been someplace. I don’t have a problem with [Brady’s situation]. Some people might, but I’ll talk football with anybody. What Tom does with his ownership position is up to Tom.”

Johnson Stays in “Coach-Speak Mode”

For Johnson, the solution is simple: keep things generic. He noted that he has already gotten used to filtering his words during production meetings with both Fox and ESPN crews throughout the season.

“Man, I’ve been careful with everything I’ve said since the season started,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in pure coachspeak mode since this season has started. So to me, it’s just business as usual. I’m just fine. I like Tom, and we have a really good relationship.”