Tom Brady is set to make his NFL Playoffs commentary debut on Jan. 18, in a highly anticipated game between the top-seeded Detroit Lions and the No. 6 Washington Commanders.

This coincides with a brewing controversy as Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is seen as a potential candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching vacancy, is linked to Brady who has a minority ownership stake in the Raiders. Brady secured a minority stake in the franchise in May 2023 and also holds a lucrative 10-year, $375 million contract as the lead NFL analyst for FOX Sports.

With the Raiders currently on the hunt for a new head coach following the Jan. 7 dismissal of Antonio Pierce after a 4-13 season, there are suggestions that Brady may play a role in recruiting Johnson for the position. Johnson, known as one of the league's most innovative offensive minds, is reportedly interviewing with multiple teams, including the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.

He previously interviewed with the New England Patriots, who ultimately hired Mike Vrabel. The Lions' postseason success and Brady's potential influence in Las Vegas have raised concerns among fans and media about the integrity of Brady's commentary during the game.

David Haugh, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, has raised questions about the NFL's decision to let Tom Brady commentate on the game. "This is a total conflict of interest," he penned.

"If they don't address it, it's going to be even more offensive. Ignoring the link would be disingenuous and insulting to the audience."

Brady's public admiration for the Lions during their impressive 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys earlier this season has also sparked concerns. He lauded Detroit's offensive versatility, particularly their use of two running backs, their command of the line of scrimmage, and their explosive passing game, all orchestrated by Johnson.

Whether intentional or not, many perceived Brady's comments as a conflict of interest. It was also reported that Brady sought advice from his former coach and head of the UNC football programme, Bill Belichick, when searching for Pierce's replacement.

Despite criticism over Johnson's use of trick plays throughout the regular season, Belichick defended them, predicting their innovative offence would continue deep into their NFL Playoffs run. "I think that Detroit and Kansas City probably would be working on a couple of plays that they've probably been working on all year. But now saying, Okay, here we are coming down to, you know, critical games," he stated on the Pat McAfee show.

"What plays can we maybe use that are a little bit different, a little bit deceptive? Maybe it's a new blitz from, you know, Aaron Glenn or [Chiefs defensive coordinator] Spags that they've kind of cooked up, maybe some look that they've been given, and now they can give that same look and run some type of different pressure on it, or maybe it's a punt rush or fake kick, something like that."

This article originally appeared on