Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion and Tom Brady, was spotted at Al Biernat's Restaurant in Dallas on Sunday, November 23, 2025 — just hours before the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game AT&T Stadium tipped off. He wasn’t there as a fan. Not exactly. He was there as a broadcaster, a team owner, and, perhaps, a man caught between two worlds.
The Quiet Meal Before the Storm
Brady, 48, arrived at Al Biernat’s around 2:30 p.m. CT, according to multiple eyewitnesses who recognized him from his signature posture — shoulders back, eyes scanning the room like he’s still reading a defense. He ordered the ribeye, medium-rare, with a side of grilled asparagus. No fanfare. No selfies. Just a man grabbing a quiet bite before the most anticipated NFC showdown of the season. The restaurant, a Dallas institution since 1972, is known for its steaks and low-key vibe — the kind of place where even legends can disappear if they want to.
By 4 p.m., he was in the broadcast booth at AT&T Stadium, wearing a dark suit and a headset, not a jersey. As the Eagles built a 21-0 lead, critics were already lining up to dismantle their offense — calling it too conservative, too slow, too predictable. But Brady, ever the quarterback’s advocate, pushed back.
"I Totally Disagree" — Brady’s Defense of Jalen Hurts
"You hear critiques about the style of the passing offense, that it’s remedial," Brady said during the third quarter. "I totally disagree. He’s got a lot of full-field reads, he’s looking to the right, he did a great job earlier in this game on that comebacker to Saquon Barkley, scanning the field. He just doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way, and that’s what you need from your quarterback."
It wasn’t just praise — it was a rebuttal to the narrative that Hurts’ game lacked flair. Brady, who spent 22 years mastering precision and patience, saw himself in Hurts’ methodical approach. He even highlighted the chemistry between Hurts and A.J. Brown, despite rumors of tension off the field. "They’re locked in," Brady added. "That’s not something you fake."
But the Eagles’ lead evaporated. Dallas scored 24 unanswered points. The comeback was fueled by Dak Prescott’s poise, a ferocious defensive push, and a controversial holding call on the Eagles’ final drive that nullified a potential game-sealing touchdown. NFL officiating expert Mike Blandino later explained the call on Fox: "They had a player going out of bounds on the play, the Cowboys took a penalty and elected to re-kick." The decision — while technically correct — felt like a dagger to Philadelphia fans.
From Dallas to Las Vegas: A Night of Irony
By Monday morning, Brady was back in Nevada. At 1:53 p.m. UTC on November 24, 2025, he sat in the owner’s box at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, wearing a black Raiders jacket and what one columnist called "jazzy spectacles." The Raiders, his team, were getting crushed by the same Cowboys team he’d just analyzed on TV. Final score: 33-16.
The game ended in absurdity. With 2:30 left and Dallas kneeling to run out the clock, the Raiders were flagged for having 12 men on the field. It wasn’t a mistake — it was a breakdown. A team that had already lost seven of its last nine games, now committing a penalty that looked like desperation, or worse — indifference.
"That’s not coaching," said Ed Graney in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "That’s surrender with a penalty flag."
Who’s Really Running the Raiders?
Brady’s role in Raiders football has become a Rorschach test. Is he a figurehead? A strategic advisor? Or is he the real architect behind the team’s offensive collapse?
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was hired in January 2025 — a move officially credited to head coach Pete Carroll. But whispers persist that Brady, who worked with Kelly during his brief tenure with the Eagles in 2013, pushed for the hire. Now, with the Raiders averaging just 17.8 points per game and ranking 29th in total yards, the question isn’t just about play-calling — it’s about accountability.
"Brady doesn’t call plays," says a former Raiders assistant who spoke anonymously. "But he’s in every offensive meeting. He critiques the tempo. He questions the personnel. He’s not just watching. He’s influencing."
That influence hasn’t translated to wins. The Raiders are 2-8. Their quarterback, Derek Carr, is under siege. Their offensive line is a sieve. And Brady, the man who once won titles with precision and discipline, now watches a team that seems to have lost its way.
What’s Next for Brady?
He’s not retiring. Not even close. But his legacy is shifting — from the field to the booth, from the locker room to the owner’s box. The Eagles game proved he still has a sharp eye for the game. The Raiders game proved he’s powerless to fix what’s broken.
Next week, the Raiders host the Chargers. The Cowboys travel to Kansas City. Brady will be in both broadcast booths. He’ll praise Hurts again. He’ll analyze Justin Herbert. And he’ll sit quietly in Vegas, wondering if he should have stayed on the sideline — where he once ruled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Tom Brady at Al Biernat’s before the Eagles-Cowboys game?
Brady was in Dallas as Fox Sports’ lead game analyst for the Eagles-Cowboys matchup. He dined at Al Biernat’s, a well-known Dallas steakhouse, for a quiet meal before heading to AT&T Stadium. The visit was unpublicized and low-key, consistent with his preference for avoiding fan attention during game days — even as a broadcaster.
Did Tom Brady influence Chip Kelly’s hiring with the Raiders?
While officially hired by head coach Pete Carroll, multiple sources confirm Brady advocated for Chip Kelly’s appointment due to their prior working relationship during Kelly’s time with the Eagles. Brady has long admired Kelly’s offensive schemes, and insiders say he attends nearly every offensive meeting. Whether he’s the de facto play-caller remains debated, but his influence on personnel and tempo is undeniable.
How did Brady react to the Raiders’ 33-16 loss to the Cowboys?
Brady remained visibly stoic during the game, according to photos and sideline reports. He didn’t leave his seat, didn’t speak to reporters afterward, and was seen leaving Allegiant Stadium without commenting. His silence speaks volumes — especially after publicly praising Jalen Hurts’ discipline earlier that weekend. The contrast between his two roles — analyst and owner — couldn’t have been starker.
What did Tom Brady mean when he said Jalen Hurts "doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way"?
Brady was defending Hurts against criticism that his passing game is too conservative. By saying Hurts "doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way," he meant the quarterback avoids risky throws, limits turnovers, and makes smart decisions — even if it means fewer big plays. For Brady, whose career was built on minimizing mistakes, this was high praise: he was essentially saying Hurts plays like a champion, not a showman.
Why was the Raiders’ 12-men-on-the-field penalty so significant?
With just over two minutes left and the Cowboys kneeling to run out the clock, the penalty wasn’t just a mistake — it was a symbol. The Raiders, already outplayed and outcoached, couldn’t even execute a basic defensive alignment. It exposed a lack of discipline and focus. For a team with an 8th loss in 10 games, it wasn’t a fluke — it was the culmination of a season-long collapse.
Is Tom Brady still relevant in the NFL after leaving the field?
Absolutely — but in a new way. As a broadcaster, he’s one of the most respected voices in the game. As a minority owner, he’s under growing scrutiny. His insights still shape narratives, and his presence in the booth draws viewers. But his inability to turn around the Raiders has turned his legacy into a cautionary tale: greatness on the field doesn’t guarantee success off it.
