Troy Aikman was in Tom Brady’s role as the top analyst for the NFL on Fox until he left for ESPN in 2022, so he knows a thing or two about how things work over there.
Ahead of Brady’s first Super Bowl call and during the seven-time champion quarterback’s first offseason as a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Aikman appeared on The Ryen Russillo Podcast to discuss Brady’s alleged “conflicts of interest” as an analyst and executive.
While Aikman questioned the “logic” of the NFL allowing Brady to participate in production meetings during Super Bowl week after barring him each week prior, Aikman believes the uproar over Brady’s role is overblown.
“Is there a big conflict? I don’t think so,” Aikman said. “I don’t think there is.”
Many believe Brady is receiving preferential treatment from Fox and the NFL, which is why he is allowed to work with this unique setup while others might not.
However, Aikman recalled a conversation with Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks in which he informed Shanks that he was interested in joining a bid to buy an NFL team. When Aikman presented the idea, the exec quickly gave him clearance to proceed with the bid.
The only exception was if Aikman owned the team that went to a Super Bowl that Fox broadcasted. So, until the Raiders make the big game one day, it sounds like Brady is in the clear.
However, Aikman believes the conflict of interest for Brady is more severe on the NFL side than the Fox side.
“When you’re an analyst, you get a chance to interact and see those coaches a little bit more,” Aikman said. “So Tom, knowing him, had done his homework. So he had a better idea of what he thought the Raiders should be looking for or what people he thought they should be interviewing based on his year’s worth of broadcasting.”
You have to wonder whether Las Vegas missing out on top head coach target Ben Johnson, whose game Brady called in the NFC Divisional round, helped quiet down the conversation around these conflicts. And unless the Raiders turn it around quickly and are contending by 2029, Brady is unlikely to bump against Shanks’ golden rule.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.