Even as an announcer, Tom Brady is adept at side-stepping the blitz.
Brady was approved by NFL owners as a minority owner in the Raiders organization this past October. Reports have indicated he’s heavily involved in the decision-making process in the team’s front office, including the recent hiring of Pete Carroll as head coach, Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, and John Spytek as GM.
In a conference call to promote Fox Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LIX on Wednesday, Brady was asked directly about the scope of his role in these offseason moves. And he responded with a typical non-specific answer.
“I think my ownership interest in the Raiders is just much more of a behind-the-scenes-type role, and I’m there to support the team and the leadership and the overall vision for the success,” Brady said.
“The best part for me is I love football so much and the fact that I get involved with it for the rest of my life, and to showcase this great game, not just as a broadcaster which is obviously one way, but in a limited partner role with an organization – it’s something I hope a lot of players get the opportunity to do. I want the game to continue to grow, to continue to improve and get better, and whatever role I can play in that I’m really excited to do that,” he said.
Reports have indicated that Brady is heavily involved in the Raiders’ strategy. In a recent appearance on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast,” The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini asserted that Brady is “running everything” in Las Vegas.
When Carroll and Spytek were introduced at a press conference last month, Raiders majority owner Mark Davis talked about how Brady filled the void of football knowledge in the organization since the NFL forced Jon Gruden’s resignation in 2021.
“Back in I guess it was ’18, with Jon Gruden—he was somebody that I brought in and really expected to be that person on the football side that would bring stability to the organization. He had a 10-year contract and all that, and his head was chopped off. And we were put in a really bad position as an organization.”
Because of his position with the Raiders, Brady faces broadcasting restrictions at Fox Sports, including being barred from pregame production meetings with players and coaches where information flows freely. However, those rules are, in part, waived for the Super Bowl.
