Though Tom Brady has shown improvement over the past few years in the broadcast booth, it's difficult to shake the issue of having someone with an ownership stake call NFL games. That perceived bias seemed to show itself in a major way on Sunday.
Brady was the color commentator for Fox's Week 5 broadcast of 49ers vs. Seahawks, and fans couldn't help but notice that Brady really did not care for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner would go out of his way to criticize Darnold even when it wasn't warranted. And on the play that led to Dre Greenlaw's ejection, Brady claimed that Darnold was acting on the hit out of bounds.
It's laughable for someone to see this contact and place blame on Darnold.
Tom Brady hates Sam Darnold
noted “Darnold with the acting” pic.twitter.com/1azVGaDElx
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 11, 2026
"Darnold with the acting," Brady said.
Now, it's unclear why Brady would have an issue with Darnold. The defending Super Bowl champion had considered signing with the Raiders when he was a free agent last year. But Vegas opted to trade for former Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, which opened the door for Darnold to sign in Seattle three days later.
Brady, being a part owner of the Raiders, had a say in that quarterback search. According to The Athletic, Brady was opposed to pursuing Darnold.
The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion. While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway — was not in favor of that approach, according to a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions.
Whatever the reason, Brady hasn't been a believer in Darnold for quite some time, and that carried over into Sunday. It was strange behavior from an analyst who is supposed to at least present a neutral perspective.
He’s not hiding it lol https://t.co/EGi140jQ9I
— Jeff Simmons (@realjeffsimmons) October 11, 2026
That wasn't what viewers got at all from Brady.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tom Brady was oddly critical of Sam Darnold during Fox's Seahawks-49ers broadcast
