Like Tom Brady, Troy Aikman Will Have Restricted Access to NFL Teams After Taking Dolphins Job

Given his dual role as a Monday Night Football color commentator for ESPN and a consultant for the Miami Dolphins, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman will face restrictions this season similar to those put in place for Tom Brady.

According to Mark Maske of Front Office Sports, the NFL has decided to apply those rules to Aikman and keep them in place for Brady, who is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and an NFL on Fox color analyst.

"There have been no issues with Tom over the last two seasons," NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Maske. "It is up to the coaches and clubs what they share with him. If they share information they shouldn't, then that's on them. The same parameters that pertained to Tom last season will continue this year and also will apply to Troy.

"Both may attend production meetings virtually but will have no access to practice facilities or practices. They may conduct interviews outside team facilities with football personnel and players. They could conduct the interview at the team hotel in an area separate from other football personnel. They could broadcast games involving their own club."

During the 2024 NFL season, Brady was approved to join the Raiders' ownership group, and ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported at the time that he would face multiple restrictions as a result, including not being permitted to visit other teams' facilities or watch their practices, not attending production meetings and not criticizing officials or other teams.

Some of those rules were relaxed prior to last season, as Brady was allowed to attend production meetings remotely, and to interview players away from the team facilities, per ESPN.

In January, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Dolphins brought in Aikman as a consultant during their search for a new general manager.

The Dolphins ultimately hired former Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as their GM, and they also hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their new head coach.

Aikman, 59, is best known for his 12-year NFL career, which was spent entirely with the Dallas Cowboys.

He was a six-time Pro Bowler and led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles during his tenure. Aikman was also named Super Bowl XXVII MVP.

Aikman joined Fox as a color commentator in 2001, and he made the move to ESPN alongside broadcast partner Joe Buck in 2022.