Tom Brady’s Raiders Era: So Far, It’s More Questions Than Comebacks
Tom Brady once broke the hearts of Raiders fans with the infamous Tuck Rule game. Now, he’s part of the franchise’s ownership group-and the irony isn’t lost on anyone. What was supposed to be a new chapter of hope has instead become a season of confusion in Las Vegas, with the team struggling to find its footing under a new regime that includes Brady in the front office and Pete Carroll on the sidelines.
When Brady joined forces with owner Mark Davis, expectations shot through the roof. After all, this is the most decorated quarterback in NFL history-surely his championship pedigree would help turn the tide for a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for years.
But instead of a quick turnaround, the Raiders have taken a step back. And inside the locker room, players are starting to wonder: what exactly is the plan?
According to reporting from Dianna Russini, at least one player voiced frustration this week, saying, *“I really don’t know what the plan is. I don’t think anyone knows.”
- That kind of uncertainty is telling. It paints a picture of a team without a clear direction-something you don’t expect when a figure like Brady is involved.
Brady’s role with the team is complex. He’s a minority owner, not a day-to-day executive, and he’s also juggling a high-profile job in the FOX Sports broadcast booth.
Still, he maintains regular communication with key figures in the organization-trainer and longtime partner Alex Guerrero, GM John Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll, and of course, Mark Davis. He’s not totally hands-off, but he’s far from fully embedded.
And that’s where the tension lies.
The Raiders were supposed to be building something with Brady’s championship DNA infused into the front office. But the early returns have been underwhelming.
The team missed out on several top coaching candidates, passed on quarterback Sam Darnold in favor of Geno Smith, and stuck by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly-until they didn’t. Kelly has since been let go, and the offense is still searching for an identity.
It’s not all on Brady, of course. Turning around an NFL franchise is never a one-man job, especially when that man is splitting time between the broadcast booth and the boardroom.
But when you bring in someone with Brady’s résumé and aura, the expectations are sky-high. And when things go south, the spotlight gets even hotter.
The reality is, even if Brady were fully committed to front-office life, the transition from all-time great player to successful executive is no guarantee. Just ask Michael Jordan, whose run as an NBA owner showed how difficult it can be for legends to translate their greatness into the boardroom.
Jordan was all-in. Brady, so far, is not.
That’s why the pressure is mounting. If Brady wants to be more than a symbolic presence in Vegas-if he wants to actually build a winner-he may need to lean in more heavily.
That starts with helping the Raiders find their quarterback of the future. The draft looms large, and the front office can’t afford another swing and miss at the most important position in the sport.
The Raiders are banking on Brady’s influence being enough to right the ship, even if he’s not in the building every day. And if he can pull it off from afar, it would be one of the more improbable front-office success stories in recent memory. But if things continue to spiral, this partnership could end up as another chapter in the long, painful history of Raiders misfires.
Tom Brady once haunted the Raiders as a player. Now, the franchise is hoping he doesn’t do it again as an executive.