Tom Brady is busy, but apparently not too busy to fire back at critics who have brought up the perceived conflict of interest in his roles as Las Vegas Raiders minority owner and lead NFL analyst on FOX.
Brady penned a blog post titled “Do Your Job” on his website TomBrady.com, where he opened up about why he is doing both roles and took on critics who have been cynical of his actions while wearing both hats.
Brady, of course, purchased a 5 percent stake in the Raiders in 2024, the same season he started as FOX’s ‘A’ booth commentator. Yet, the controversy has only arisen after ESPN reported on Brady’s involvement in helping the Raiders gameplan.
NFL coaches have rushed to Brady’s side. Yet that has not stopped naysayers from speaking out against the all-time albeit controversial NFL quarterback who of course has won the most Super Bowls of any QB (7).
Brady: Critics Are ‘Blinded By Distrust’
Brady went in on his critics, who have accused him of using his access to opposing teams to help the Raiders in his role as a vocal minority owner.
“When you live through uncertain and untrusting times like we are today, it is very easy to watch a person’s passions and profession intersect and to believe you’re looking at some sort of dilemma,” Brady wrote. “Because when you’re blinded by distrust, it’s hard to see anything other than self-interest. People who are like that, particularly to a chronic, pathological degree, are telling on themselves.
“They’re showing you their worldview and how they operate. They’re admitting that they can only conceive of interests that are selfish; that they cannot imagine a person doing their job for reasons that are greater than themselves. (These kinds of people make horrible teammates, by the way.)”
Brady has been caught up in leaguewide scandals before as the New England Patriots quarterback — the Deflategate scandal and Spygate during the 2007 season. Still, he stated the best way to counteract critics is by being trustworthy.
“The solution to that problem is … doing your job with integrity,” Brady wrote. “It’s finding fulfillment in doing the best you can. It’s living up to the duty you have to yourself, to your employer, to your family, to the culture, to your fellow citizens. It’s educating yourself and filling your knowledge gaps not with assumptions and judgments, but with facts and figures.”
Brady: ‘Motivated’ To ‘Grow Game’ In Both Roles
Brady stated his primary role as analyst to teach, which he deems a higher calling.
“As a broadcaster, I want everyone who tunes into FOX on Sunday afternoons to feel like they got their money’s worth for the three hours they entrust to our entire team,” Brady wrote. “Those are precious hours for busy, hardworking people. We owe them a return on that investment, which is to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.
“For me, it’s to entertain and inform and to help create a great viewing experience by drawing on the deep well of knowledge and wisdom I have gained from playing high level football for nearly 30 years.”
He also noted his “why” — meaning why he feels compelled to do what he doees — and how that guides him in his dual roles.
“I am grateful and fortunate that I’ve never lost sight of mine: of my love for the game and my teammates,” Brady wrote. “Of my passion for the nuances of the game’s principles. Of my appreciation for good competition and my commitment to the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Tom Brady Breaks Silence on Raiders Ownership Controversy: ‘Paranoid and Distrustful’