Friday, September 4, 2026
The FOS App is Live Download It Now

NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions

Brady will be able to remotely attend Fox’s production meetings with players and coaches this season, the league confirmed.

Tom Brady
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The NFL continues to loosen the Brady Rules. 

Tom Brady will be able to attend Fox’s production meetings with players and coaches this season—remotely—an NFL spokesman confirmed to Front Office Sports

Brady was largely barred from those meetings last season because of his other job as an owner of the Raiders, though the restrictions began to loosen near the end of the season.

Brady will still be barred from attending the meetings at team facilities, the league said.

The news of Brady being allowed into production meetings was first reported by The Athletic

Other restrictions remain in place as the quarterback turned Fox color analyst enters the second year in the booth. Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with the network in 2022. 

“Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to Front Office Sports. “He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel. He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. We evaluated the policy after his first year and believed it was fine for him to participate remotely in a production meeting.”

The restrictions are in place because of Brady’s role as a minority owner in the Raiders. He is part of a group that includes business partner Tom Wagner and former teammate Richard Seymour that bought 10% for $220 million; Brady has a 5% stake in the team. 

In addition to being barred from team facilities, Brady’s ownership stake means he can’t criticize teams or officials and is subject to the NFL’s gambling and tampering policies. 

A year ago, Brady’s situation raised eyebrows among league owners, who were skeptical of letting one of their peers into team facilities. 

I think a lot of owners around the league felt that was a potential conflict,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said in October 2024 when Brady’s stake was approved. “It’s hard to know whether it will be an actual conflict, but it can be a potential conflict or perceived conflict.”

Brady attended in-person production meetings ahead of the Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl in February.

An exception was made when the network broadcasted the Super Bowl in February when the Eagles beat the Chiefs. NBC will air Super Bowl LX this season.

Brady and Kevin Burkhardt will call Giants-Commanders in Week 1 on Sept. 7 followed by a Super Bowl rematch in Week 2. 

Fox and the Raiders did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Washington Redskins football shirts and a team flag on sale at a sporting goods store in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, U.S., June 24, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Native Leaders to Commanders: Drop Old Name for Good

The franchise says there are no plans to revert to its old name.

PGA Tour Viewership Stays Steady in 2026 After Big Increase Last Year

All four majors also saw viewership increases this season.

College Football’s Biggest Circus Descends on Baton Rouge

Lane Kiffin’s debut and the NFL eligibility battle are drawing national attention.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/4/26 – Judge Clears Pros for College, Good Good CEO Out, Russini Plots Comeback

0:00

Featured Today

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”
Aug 3, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) kisses the championship trophy during the trophy ceremony after her match against Jessica Pegula (USA) (not pictured) in the women's singles final of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
August 30, 2026

How Alex Eala Turned the Philippines Into a Tennis Nation

A December homecoming match could break tennis’s attendance record.
August 26, 2026

Deshaun Watson Has Done the Impossible: Unite Browns Fans

Watson was named the starter after complaining boos were “personal.”
Exclusive

NFL Players Quietly Dropped Push for Media Locker Room Ban

Talks have been dormant after a 2024 effort.
Connor Onion RG3
September 4, 2026

Connor Onion Plans to ‘Go With the Flow’ With RG3 on Fox CFB

Onion and Griffin will call USC–Fresno State on Friday night.
hanson_smiling
First at FOS
September 4, 2026

Scott Hanson Promises Fewer RedZone Ads to Start 2026 Season

Hanson emphasized such decisions are out of his hands.
Sponsored

Kerri Walsh Jennings’s Playbook for the Future of Volleyball

The former gold medalist talks NCAA, the Olympics, & investing in volleyball.
Jan 23, 2020; Kissimmee, Florida, USA; ESPN NFL Countdown analyst Dianna Russini poses during AFC practice at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Exclusive
September 3, 2026

Dianna Russini ‘Absolutely’ Planning Sports Media Comeback

Multiple outlets have publicly stated they’d be willing to hire her.
Opinion
September 3, 2026

Winners and Losers of NBA’s Stiff Clippers Ruling

The punishments have sent shock waves around sports media.
Feb 7, 2022; Westlake Village, CA, USA; ESPN reporter Dianna Russini at Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI Opening Night at Oaks Christian High School. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
September 3, 2026

The Athletic Concludes Dianna Russini Investigation, Suggests Editor’s Notes

Russini resigned from The Athletic in April.
Sep 30, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) talks with team owner Steve Ballmer during media day at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
September 2, 2026

Clippers Punishment Puts Disputed ESPN Report Under Spotlight

An NBA spokesperson previously called the ESPN report inaccurate.