Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; FOX broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady looks on before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Jeffrey Becker
Tom Brady won't have the same access as other color commentators would as he prepares for Super Bowl LIX, but the seven-time Super Bowl Champion will have more than he normally does.
Andrew Marchand and Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Brady will be allowed to attend production meetings with the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LIX alongside his FOX colleagues Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi. Because he is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders — and one with a seemingly large influence — Brady typically isn't allowed in production meetings. But as he's set to call Super Bowl LIX, that policy will be adjusted for at least this game.
However, Brady will still not be allowed to watch practice for either team, something other notable game analysts like Cris Collinsworth, Troy Aikman, Kirk Herbstreit and Greg Olsen are allowed to do as part of their game prep. The rest of Brady's crew, though, can still be at the practice.
Nick Foles talks about precautions the Eagles took out of fear the Patriots would cheat in Super Bowl LII.
Foles says during walk through the team had 13 players on the field in random spots and the team shredded every piece of paper at the team hotel when they changed the… pic.twitter.com/fBZeZBVC1P
To so-called "Brady Rules" are the way that the NFL has tried to dance around the clear conflict of interest in the fact that someone who has a financial stake in one of the 32 teams is also the face of one of the league's broadcast partners. These rules — as noted by Marchand and Taylor — also prevent Brady from being in the facility of the other 31 teams or criticizing referees on broadcasts.
Sunday's game will be the conclusion of Brady's first season as a color commentator, where he's seemingly improved as the season has gone along, but still been a downgrade from the aforementioned Olsen, who was bumped to the No. 2 booth for FOX. Brady has said he plans to honor the remaining nine seasons on his 10-year/$375 million deal with FOX.
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