Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has publicly criticized Tom Brady’s dual role as a minority owner of the team and lead NFL color commentator for Fox Sports.

Brady and the league have been catching flak ever since they lifted a ban on the former quarterback from attending production meetings for games he is broadcasting. The ban had been put in place to quell concerns from other owners regarding a competitive edge.

That move, along with video of Brady popping up in the Raiders coaching booth with a headset on last week, has amplified those concerns.

Pierce voiced his discomfort during a recent SiriusXM “Mad Dog Radio” appearance.

“This is unprecedented, what we’re seeing,” he said. “I think I would be uncomfortable if it was the other way around, to be honest with you.”

Pierce ‘uncomfortable’ with Tom Brady’s Access

After a promising start to his coaching career, Pierce was fired in 2024 when the Raiders went an abysmal 4-13. Brady reportedly nudged the team into the firing. Oh, and by the way, Pierce was a member of the New York Giants when they beat Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, ruining their perfect season.

Does he have a grudge? Animosity? Maybe. But he makes a good point, stating there is a high degree of likelihood that someone of Brady’s football IQ can use information gleaned in production meetings to his advantage.

“It’s not hard for him to watch a few things on a Friday practice or hear things in a production meeting and be like, ‘Hmm,’ and have tidbits,” he surmised. “And you’d be foolish enough to think that he’s not gonna share that with the Raiders because we had those conversations about certain things.”

Yikes. That sounds like he’s snitching on the GOAT. That said, Brady did have significant restrictions placed on him last year, so it’s unlikely he heard anything from meetings or viewing practices … unless he had someone tape them.

SignalGate 2.0?

“I know he was a great asset for us with the Raiders when I was there and I think he’ll still be a great asset as he’s going forward & I think this does help him out in the Raiders."

Former Raiders HC @AntonioPierce joined @AdamSchein & weighed in on the Tom Brady controversy👀 pic.twitter.com/mgBYpQC7VT

— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) September 18, 2025

RELATED: Tom Brady Banned from Attending Team Practices, But the NFL Just Relaxed Its Conflict of Interest Rules for Him

Would NOT let Up

Pierce refused to ease up on the snitchery either. In fact, he claimed Tom Brady was an asset to the Raiders last season with the information he was getting.

“I don’t know what the NFL has set for Tom Brady and his rules,” Pierce said, “but I know he was a great asset for us with the Raiders when I was there.”

“And I think he’ll still be a great asset as he’s going forward, and I think this does help him out, and the Raiders.”

Wow. He’s flat-out saying the NFL, by relaxing the conflict of interest rules, is letting Brady get an unfair advantage that he can then provide to the coaching staff in the booth.

From the NFL on Tom Brady: “There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game. Brady was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a limited partner.”pic.twitter.com/dmebVaOBYg

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 16, 2025

Those are some heavy accusations, insinuations, whatever you want to call them. They echo what we’ve said on the matter, however.

This cumulative knowledge from broadcasting multiple games could indirectly advantage the Raiders over rivals, even if Brady didn’t explicitly share details.

Yes, it could help him learn what the opposing team is planning. If Brady were broadcasting a game involving a team the Raiders might face later in the season (or even in a future year), the meetings could reveal elements of that team’s offensive or defensive schemes, play-calling philosophies, or adjustments for specific scenarios.

For example, a coach might discuss plans to emphasize certain runs, passes, or defenses based on the matchup, providing insights into broader team strategies that extend beyond that single game.

Why is the NFL lifting the ban? If it was a conflict of interest even before Brady became owner, why is it no longer a league concern?

The 1-1 Raiders are on the road this weekend to take on the Washington Commanders. Brady will be working the Dallas Cowboys v. Chicago Bears game.

The Raiders play both of those teams later in the season. In fact, their game against the Bears is next week.

Hope Brady doesn’t pick up any insider knowledge to use for that game.

Rusty Weiss is a lifelong NFL and MLB fan (Cowboys/Dodgers) and sometimes fan of college basketball (Xavier). Rusty is ... More about Rusty Weiss