Tom Brady ‘was supposed’ to play for the Raiders

After strolling away from the Patriots as a free agent in March 2020, Tom Brady shocked the world by becoming a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nonetheless, a number of different groups closely pursued the legendary quarterback (unsurprisingly), together with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Raiders principal proprietor Mark Davis confirmed in a latest interview that his group practically landed Brady, a then-six-time Tremendous Bowl-winning QB with New England.

“He was purported to be right here in 2020,” Davis mentioned in a video shared by the Raiders. “That’s when our relationship began, was in 2020 when he was a free agent and we talked to him about coming right here to play quarterback. Clearly, it was a tricky choice, he was near coming right here, however the head coach and basic supervisor determined they wished to go in a unique course.

“So, we didn’t signal him, however as I obtained to know him by means of that course of, I let his agent know that when he was accomplished enjoying, I would love him to be part of our group.”

Certainly, Brady turned a minority proprietor of the Raiders in Might 2023, three months after retiring from enjoying within the NFL for the ultimate time.

Rumors have swirled for years concerning Brady practically enjoying for Las Vegas. UFC CEO and president Dana White said in 2022 that the Raiders had a plan for each Brady and tight finish Rob Gronkowski to land in Las Vegas, however then-head coach Jon Gruden and basic supervisor Mike Mayock “blew it up”.

4 years in the past, Brady famously known as out an nameless NFL workforce for selecting “that mother [expletive]” to play quarterback over himself in 2020. Brady has but to substantiate who that different quarterback was. However, now, indicators level to then-Raiders QB Derek Carr being the reply.

“One of many groups, and so they weren’t on the very finish, I used to be considering, ‘You’re sticking with that mom [expletive]?’” Brady mentioned on an episode of HBO’s “The Shop” in 2021. “Once I look again, I’m like, there’s no [expletive] means I might’ve went to that workforce. However they mentioned they didn’t need me. I do know what meaning, I do know what that seems like. And I’m gonna go [expletive] you up due to that.”

One half-decade later, Brady seems to really feel a lot in a different way in regards to the Las Vegas group. He owns a ten p.c stake within the soccer workforce whereas concurrently being FOX’s prime NFL shade commentator.

Final 12 months, Brady had a number of restrictions positioned on him by the NFL due to conflicts of curiosity as a partial Raiders proprietor. He wasn’t allowed to attend broadcast manufacturing conferences or entry different groups’ services, gamers, or coaches as a FOX worker.

Nonetheless, forward of the 2025 season, the NFL amended its “Brady guidelines,” according to The New York Times‘ Andrew Marchand. Brady is now permitted to attend manufacturing conferences both in particular person or nearly alongside his FOX colleagues. Nonetheless, he nonetheless isn’t allowed to go to the house workforce’s follow facility for the respective recreation he’s broadcasting.

Nonetheless, Davis appears to have unwavering belief in Brady as a part-owner of the workforce.

“[I’m] actually, actually completely happy to have him as a part of this group,” Davis mentioned. “There’s no one extra aggressive. He’s actually, actually a vivid particular person. An awesome particular person to know. Actually selfless, when you concentrate on it. He’s simply nice. It’s superior to have someone like that within the group.”

Kaley Brown

Sports activities producer

Kaley Brown is a sports activities producer for Boston.com, the place she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox.