Credit: AP
NFL owners have officially approved Tom Brady‘s bid to purchase a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. Brady, excited about the opportunity, called it “a blessing to know I’ll be involved in the greatest league in the world for the rest of my life.”
In a statement shared on X, Brady expressed his admiration for the Raiders and the city of Las Vegas, saying, “Throughout my NFL career, I’ve learned that at its core, football is a game of teamwork, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” “The Raiders franchise, and the city of Las Vegas embody these same values, and I’m honored to become part of that story.”
Brady also thanked Raiders owner Mark Davis for welcoming him into the Raiders family and acknowledged the hard work Davis has put into building the organization that fans love today.
Davis, reflecting on Brady’s past as a rival, joked, “For many years, I didn’t like him much,” referring to the infamous 2002 Tuck Rule game. “But he admitted it was a fumble, and we’re proud to have him as a partner. He’s a competitor and a bright young man.”
Balancing Ownership with Broadcasting Duties
Although Brady can no longer play, Davis hinted that Brady could still help the team in the future, especially with selecting and mentoring quarterbacks. Brady echoed this sentiment in his statement, saying he’s “eager to contribute to the organization in any way I can, honoring the Raiders’ rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans … and most importantly, WIN football games.”
While the exact details of Brady’s role with the Raiders remain unclear, Davis acknowledged the need to balance Brady’s dual responsibilities as a broadcaster for Fox. One of the concerns during the 17-month approval process was the potential conflict of interest between Brady’s roles as an owner and a broadcaster.
NFL Restrictions to Avoid Conflict of Interest
To address this, the NFL set restrictions on Brady’s involvement with other teams during his broadcasting duties. These include barring him from attending production meetings with players and coaches, entering team facilities, or watching practices. These restrictions will continue now that his ownership stake is approved.
“I think a lot of owners around the league felt that was a potential conflict,” said Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, who chairs the finance committee that raised the conflict of interest issues with Brady’s ownership. “It’s hard to know whether it will be an actual conflict, but it can be a potential conflict or perceived conflict.”
“Tom’s been abiding by the issues that we raised through the committee voluntarily since he began broadcasting,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “So that’s all been resolved.”
Davis acknowledged the concerns but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to manage the situation.
“We’re paranoid is what we are in the Raiders,” Davis said. “I do know that the coaches and the quarterbacks do want to talk to him. They’re not going to give him the full story, and they’re not giving you guys the full story, either. When they’re talking, they’re telling you guys what they want the other team to hear.”
The Dallas Cowboys, who Brady’s Fox crew has covered four times this season, prefer his involvement in production meetings for better game analysis. Cowboys officials have communicated this to Fox and the NFL.
Brady’s Ownership Bid Clears Final Hurdle
One challenge during Brady’s ownership bid was ensuring he would not return as a player. In July 2023, owners voted to prevent non-family employees from holding equity in a team, meaning Brady would have to sell his stake if he ever wanted to play again.
Goodell downplayed the lengthy approval process, explaining that ownership transactions generally take time. Hunt added that there were numerous structural and due diligence requirements that contributed to the delay, but the committee is glad to have the transaction completed.
Goodell also hopes Brady’s and Raiders Hall of Famer Richard Seymour’s new roles as owners will inspire other former players to pursue ownership opportunities in the league.
“I think there’s a lot of interest,” Goodell said. “And I’ve encouraged them. … There are others that are potentially going to be in process in the very near future.
“I think they add a lot to the ownership. I love, not just the diversity of it, but the diversity of thought, in the context of what’s good for the game. What can we do better? How do we improve? Can we get bigger? How do we continue to extend our aim in all parts?”
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This report used information from ESPN.
