There seems to be no debate about minority owner Tom Brady’s importance as a resource for the Raiders.

His exact level of involvement is now the subject of national discourse, however.

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham were the latest to toe the organizational line Thursday, disputing an ESPN report during a “Monday Night Football” broadcast that said the legendary quarterback was directly involved in the Raiders’ game planning.

“I don’t know what was said on the broadcast, because we don’t watch the games, but Tom’s involvement with me is I spent a lot of time just talking football with him, but … we don’t talk about game plans,” Kelly said. “When I use Tom, I just use him as a resource of, ‘Hey, when you faced a Mike Zimmer-type defense, what did you like protection-wise and play-wise?’ But on a weekly basis, he’s not game planning with us or talking to us.”

ESPN’s report, which claimed Brady was talking to Kelly “two or three times per week,” was accompanied by an image of Brady in the coaches’ booth wearing a headset during the Raiders’ loss to the Chargers. The clip added fuel to a debate over whether Brady’s dual roles as a minority owner and Fox broadcaster could give his team a competitive advantage.

Pierce speaks out

Former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, during an interview with SiriusXM on Thursday, added his name to the list of people who are wary of Brady’s “unprecedented” responsibilities.

Pierce said he would be “uncomfortable” if Brady was broadcasting one of his team’s games and then he had to play the Raiders later that year. Brady is prohibited from going to an opposing club’s facility for practices or production meetings, but can attend production meetings virtually.

“It’s not hard for him to … hear things in a production meeting and be like, ‘Hmm,’ and have tidbits,” said Pierce, who admitted he was unaware of what restrictions the NFL has in place for Brady. “And you’d be foolish enough to think that he’s not going to share that with the Raiders, because we had those conversations about certain things. He was very informative about things he knew or he felt, and that’s why you bring in a guy like Tom Brady to be a minority owner because he gives you those different insights that other people can’t give you. So I would be nervous (if I were with an opposing team).”

Pierce later clarified that most of his interactions with Brady, who didn’t become an official minority owner until October 2024, were about the Raiders’ issues as opposed to what other teams were doing.

But Pierce said Brady did weigh in on the team’s midseason change at offensive coordinator last year. Pierce, who was fired by the Raiders in January and replaced by Pete Carroll, said it appears from the outside that Brady has become more involved this season.

“He was at training camp,” Pierce said. “He’s been around, he was at (organized team activities), he was in the draft meetings. He’s been around a lot more than he was last year with me. So our conversations were more about how we fix the Raiders. I think this year, you know, he built that team. Those are a lot of his calls, right? I think even starting with (firing) me, that was one of his calls.”

Pierce, who currently works for Fox rival CBS Sports, believes teams will be careful around Brady even if they downplay their concerns publicly.

“I think everybody’s going to give you the political answer and say, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal,’” Pierce said. “I’m calling BS on that.”

‘We’re all close’

ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” report also said Brady communicates with Graham, even texting him after the Raiders’ first preseason game that the team’s tackling needed to improve.

The two go back a long ways. Graham began his NFL coaching career in 2009 as a Patriots assistant and spent seven years in New England when Brady was the team’s star quarterback.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for Tom Brady, period, point blank,” Graham said. “He’s encouraged me when I’ve been down throughout my career. He’s always reached out like that. So, I’m just thankful that I’ve been a part of his life, and thankfully he’s been part of my life

“I was with him for seven years. We won a lot of games together. We’re all close.”

Kelly got his own text from Brady heading into the season opener against the Patriots, simply wishing him luck. Kelly added Brady didn’t say much on the headset when he wore it during the Chargers game and the Raiders’ preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 16.

“He doesn’t talk to the coaches when he’s up there,” Kelly said. “I think he’s just watching football.”

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

Up next

Who: Raiders at Commanders

When: 10 a.m. Sunday

Where: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Md.

TV: Fox

Radio: KRLV-AM (920), KOMP-FM (92.3)

Line: Commanders -3½; total 44½