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NFL Announces Final Decision On Tom Brady Rules Violation

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 1:53 PM ET

NFL fans were absolutely outraged to see Tom Brady up in the coaches' booth during last night's game between the Las Vegas Raiders (a team he partially owns) and the Los Angeles Chargers while also working as a broadcaster for FOX. Many believe that the NFL needs to punish Brady over it.

Fat chance.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the NFL has announced that there is no punishment forthcoming for Brady. The league asserted that as a minority owner and broadcaster that Brady is "prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings" but that there is no restriction on him sitting in the coaches' booth.

"Tom Brady did not violate any NFL rules by wearing a headset in the Las Vegas Raiders' coaching booth during Monday night's game," Schefter wrote on X.

"The NFL said Tuesday in a statement that Brady, a minority owner with the Raiders and a broadcaster for Fox, is 'prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings.' But the former star quarterback is allowed to sit in the coaches' booth, according to the league."

NFL announced today that Tom Brady, a minority owner with the Raiders and a broadcaster for Fox, is “prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings.” But he is allowed to sit in the coaches’ booth, per the league.https://t.co/gapNlq6lZ0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2025

The league speaks

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy further elaborated, making it clear that Brady did not violate any rules by being up in the coaches' booth.

"There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches' booth or wearing a headset during a game," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement on the matter. "Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.

"All personnel sitting in the booth must abide by policies that prohibit the use of electronic devices other than league-issued equipment such as a Microsoft Surface Tablet for the Sideline Viewing System."

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady is seen on the field prior to a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on October 27, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)Jane Gershovich/Getty Images

A bigger issue for fans

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 from principal owner Mark Davis. 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.

The main group of people who have been complaining are fans and analysts, who have argued relentlessly that Brady's ability to do production meetings with teams the Raiders might face later in the season gives his team a competitive advantage.

But other than barring Brady from going to opposing facilities to have those production meetings, nobody in the league itself appears to be concerned.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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