Mark Davis and Tom Brady (Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images)
If Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis had his way, Tom Brady would have joined the Silver and Black long before purchasing a minority stake last year.

Last October, NFL owners approved Brady’s bid to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders. Brady was heavily involved in personnel decisions this offseason, reportedly stopping the front office from signing quarterback Sam Darnold before he was snagged by the Seattle Seahawks.

In addition to his career as the Raiders’ minority owner, Tom Brady enters year two of a 10-year, $375 million broadcast deal he signed with Fox Sports back in 2020.

During an interview with Raiders host Baron Davis on “Raiders: Talk of the Nation”, Mark Davis dropped a stunning bombshell that will upset his fans: If not for then-general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden, Tom Brady would have signed with Vegas over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 free agency:

“He was supposed to be here in 2020. That’s when our relationship started, was in 2020 when he was a free agent and we talked to him about coming here to play quarterback. Obviously, it was a tough decision, he was close to coming here, but the head coach and general manager decided they wanted to go in a different direction. So, we didn’t sign him, but as I got to know him through that process, I let his agent know that when he was done playing, I would like him to be a part of our organization.”

Brady went on to sign a two-year deal with Gruden’s old team, the Buccaneers, leading them to a Super Bowl 55 championship in 2020. The Raiders stuck with Derek Carr through 2022, only to release him in 2023 after failing to find a taker for his contract.

Tom Brady Had An Excellent First Offseason As Raiders’ Minority Owner

Tom Brady (Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
Brady wasted no time rebuilding the Raiders after a third straight losing season. The first big moves were hiring future Hall of Fame head coach Pete Carroll and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers executive John Spytek as the new GM.

The Raiders addressed their quarterback void by trading for ex-Seahawks Pro Bowler Geno Smith, who revived his career with Carroll in Emerald City. Then came the draft selection of generational running back prospect Ashton Jeanty, adding more firepower to an offense led by superstar tight end Brock Bowers and 1,000-yard receiver Jakobi Meyers.

Now, we wait and see if all the additions can pay dividends.