Tom Brady wants Ben Johnson to take over as the new Las Vegas Raiders head coach, it has emerged.
Brady is personally involved in recruiting the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator with the seven-time Super Bowl winner ‘enamored’ by him, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.
Brady, a minority owner for the Raiders, has also spent time with Johnson’s agent, Rapoport said.
The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce earlier this week and it was claimed that Brady had reached out to gauge Bill Belichick’s interest in the position.
But Brady’s old New England Patriots head coach has just joined the college game with North Carolina and is believed to be happy to stay put for now.
Johnson has interest from multiple teams across the NFL – earlier on Saturday, he interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their vacant head coach position.
Tom Brady, pictured with Raiders owner Mark Davis, reportedly wants Ben Johnson as coach
Brady is said to be ‘enamored’ with Ben Johnson and has already spent time with his agent
His Lions team are currently on a bye week after securing the NFC’s top seed for the playoffs, which start on Saturday when the Houston Texans host Los Angeles Chargers.
Whoever it is that takes over in Vegas will have an opportunity to build the franchise from the bottom up after a dreadful 2024 campaign.
The Raiders have the sixth pick in the 2025 Draft after ending the current season with a miserable 4-13 record.
They also need to hire a new General Manager, with Tom Telesco following Pierce out through the exit door earlier this week.
Brady’s role in rebuilding the Raiders has been viewed with controversy in some quarters, given he also holds a lucrative $375million deal to work for Fox Sports as an analyst.
Indeed, earlier this week it was claimed that Brady’s 10-year deal is going to be over at this season – his first with Fox – comes to an end.
Former MLB executive David Samson said that Brady’s attempt to juggle both jobs is an ‘absolute insult’ to both analysts and team presidents.
‘Tom Brady is running that team right now – the NFL knows it and Fox knows it and something has got to give. So enjoy Tom in the booth because you’re not going to see him there next year,’ Samson told the Dan Le Batard Show.
Brady has been criticized for trying to be an NFL analyst and an owner of one of the teams
‘He will be in the Raiders front office, he will not return as an analyst for Fox – you cannot be this involved in the operation of a team and be the No 1 analyst.
‘It’s an absolute insult to analysts what he’s doing. And it’s an insult to team president what he’s doing.
‘You end up doing both of them in a mediocre way… and I promise you he will choose the Raiders.’
Star Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby took to social media on Friday to promise fans that the team will be better next season.
‘2024 was one of the hardest of my life for many reasons but I wouldn’t change it for nothing,’ he said on X.
‘Trials & tribulations from start to finish but I know it all happened for a reason. It always gets hardest before your biggest come up & I refuse to back down.
‘2025 will be the best year yet & I’m manifesting it. Every single day, one day at a time, brick by brick. Through it all we stand tall & continue to dominate & ball at even higher levels. 2025 Will Be ICONIC.’
