Despite not being one of the best teams in the NFL for the past several years, the Las Vegas Raiders continue to draw attention to themselves.
Their most recent headlines come off the field, though, as they recently announced Tom Brady as a minority owner of the franchise. Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Raiders comes just a few months after he decided to retire for a second time.
Athletes involving themselves on the ownership side of sports is a growing trend, and Brady explained his decision to join the club via AP:
“I grew up in the Bay Area. My favorite team was the 49ers. The team across the bay was the Raiders. And, you know, they’re an iconic NFL franchise. When I look at a lot of the people that have impacted the NFL over a long period of time in the most positive way, (former Raiders owner and GM) Al Davis is one of them. And he’s not with us anymore but I’ve heard incredible stories.
“And then the opportunity came about to become a minority owner in the Raiders, it was a dream come true for me. I’ll be playing a very passive role. This is something that I’m interested in doing for the rest of my life. This is not something that I’m into it for a year or two years. You know, I’ve got a lot of responsibility with my Fox job, which I take very seriously. But if I’m looking over the course of my life, to have the opportunity to be involved in the NFL is a dream come true. And if I could help the NFL and continue to contribute in a positive way, then you know, that’s been a very enjoyable part of my life.”
Having someone like Brady working with Las Vegas should only benefit the organization, considering what his name and brand mean to the league. However, it seems like a bit of a waste if Brady is only involved passively, as he could surely do some things to improve the team moving forward.
Tom Brady buying more than ceremonial piece of Raiders
While Brady has publicly said that he plans to play a passive role as an owner, there are rumors swirling around league circles that that isn’t the case. It’s unknown what percentage stake Brady purchased, but he’s reportedly going to be much more involved in team decisions than he’s letting on.
