October 16 (UPI) — Tom Brady, the new minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, may assist pick and train the franchise’s future quarterback, according to majority owner Mark Davis.
Davis made the statements at an NFL owners meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday. Earlier Tuesday, NFL owners unanimously approved Brady as a limited partner of the Raiders. Brady, who also broadcasts for Fox Sports, now owns 5% of the AFC West club.
“Although Tom can’t play, I think he can help us select a quarterback in the future and potentially train him as well,” Davis said of Brady’s role with the Raiders.
“It’s a huge benefit for the organization.”
Critics have previously questioned if Brady’s work at Fox could provide a competitive advantage, given broadcasters frequently have behind-the-scenes access to facilities, players, and coaches. But early this year, the NFL imposed restrictions on Brady. These limitations prohibit the football legend from attending broadcast production sessions, either in person or online. He is also not permitted to use team facilities to communicate with players or coaches.
Brady said Tuesday that he considers himself fortunate to “be involved in the greatest league in the world for the rest of [his] life.” The future Hall of Famer, who owns NFL records for the most regular season and postseason victories, said he is focused on winning for the Raiders.
“I’m eager to contribute to the organization in any way I can, honouring the Raiders’ rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans…and most importantly, win football games,” the quarterback said in a release.
Richard Seymour, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played for the Raiders and was teammates with Brady while with the New England Patriots, also purchased a modest part in the Raiders’ ownership.
Al Davis, a former Raiders owner, acquired a part owner of the franchise in 1966 before eventually taking full control. Following his death in 2011, his son Mark and wife Carol took over the brand.
Under Al Davis, the Raiders won three Super Bowls and were perennial playoff challengers, but they have only appeared in the postseason twice in the last 21 years.
Inconsistent quarterback performance continues to haunt the franchise.
Since 1980, the Raiders have only twice taken a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft. JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in 2007, was released after three seasons. Todd Marinovich, the No. 24 overall choice in 1991, only played two seasons with the team.
Derek Carr, a second-round choice in the 2014 NFL Draft, started 142 games for the Raiders over nine seasons. He got a five-year, $125 million contract extension in 2022, but was dismissed a year later.
Around a month after releasing Carr, the Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.7 million contract. Garoppolo, who started only six games, was released in March.
The Raiders began the 2024 season with a 2-4 record, and Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew were the only quarterbacks on the roster.
They will play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7 at 4:05 p.m. EDT on Sunday in Inglewood, California.
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