• Loading stock data...
Thursday, April 24, 2025

Tom Brady’s $220 Million Raiders Stake Is Messing With His $375 Million Day Job

  • The NFL has placed heavy restrictions on Brady as a Fox broadcaster.
  • He is still permitted to call Raiders games.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

New Raiders part-owner Tom Brady can, in fact, call Las Vegas games on Fox airwaves. The NFL confirmed as much Thursday after Brady’s long-awaited 10% stake in the team was unanimously approved by owners at the owners meetings in Atlanta earlier this week.

It took Brady nearly a year and a half to get to that point. In addition to worries about “the quality of his money,” as ESPN reported, there were obvious concerns about his role as Fox’s lead analyst on Sundays. 

Brady and investor Tom Wagner reportedly paid $220 million for their share at a $3.5 billion evaluation of the team.

Even before the stake was finalized, the league essentially neutered Brady’s ability to learn about the teams he was covering, as the other owners worried about an interested party getting inside information about their teams. 

These are the restrictions that Brady has been working under, as reported by Seth Wickersham in August:

  • He can’t criticize teams or refs.
  • He can’t enter teams’ facilities.
  • He can’t attend practices.
  • He can’t join pregame production meetings with teams or players—in person or virtually.
  • He’s subject to the league’s gambling and tampering policies. 

The Cowboys told ESPN this week that they prefer Brady to attend their meetings when covering their games.

Fox signed Brady to a 10-year, $375 million deal as soon as his retirement papers were dry; the legendary quarterback took a year away from the league before replacing Greg Olsen as Fox’s No. 1 analyst this year. His broadcasting career got off to a halting start, although the broad consensus is that Brady has been gradually improving.

Brady’s two jobs were a major topic in Atlanta this week. Normally placid league commissioner Roger Goodell appeared somewhat agitated when asked by Front Office Sports about how the NFL got comfortable with the deal.

“Tom’s been abiding by the issues that we raised through the [finance] committee voluntarily since he began his broadcasting,” Goodell said. “That’s all been resolved, outlined very clearly, and everybody seems to be satisfied with that.”

Or not. Finance committee chairman and Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, who will now share a division with Brady, said that the broadcasting situation raised eyebrows.

“I think a lot of owners around the league felt that was a potential conflict,” Hunt said. “It’s hard to know whether it will be an actual conflict, but it can be a potential conflict or perceived conflict.”

— With Eric Fisher reporting from Atlanta

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NC State women's cross country

Judge Threatens to Reject $2.8 Billion House v. NCAA Settlement

The NCAA and power conferences could end up at trial.
Olympic rings

SafeSport Fires CEO Amid Scandal

Ju’Riese Colón was hired in 2019, two years after the agency’s founding.
Cristina Daglas
exclusive

ESPN Executive Editor Cristina Daglas Out After HR Investigation

Daglas was placed on administrative leave in January.
Jul 20, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Everton defender Nathan Patterson (3) challenged by Minnesota United forward Luis Amarilla (9) in the first half at Allianz Field.

Everton Accelerates Rebound With Addition of Texans Minority Owner

Friedkin acquired Everton in December after a prolonged sale process.

Featured Today

Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball

The projected No. 1 pick just declared for the draft.
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards
April 21, 2025

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
April 20, 2025

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.
Mar 13, 2020; Augusta, GA, USA; The front entrance at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday morning. The Masters Tournament has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
opinion
April 20, 2025

What’s It Like to Play Augusta? A Day on the World’s Most..

Inside a round at the most exclusive club in the world.
FuboTV signage

Disney’s Fubo Takeover Now Faces DOJ Antitrust Review

The deal struck by the ESPN parent company could be in jeopardy.
Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.
April 22, 2025

NBA Playoffs Deliver Most-Watched Opening Weekend in 25 Years

It was the most-watched opening weekend on ESPN platforms.
Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.
April 23, 2025

Roku’s New Plan to Relieve Streaming Headaches

The streaming company introduces new tools to direct fans to games.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
Shannon Sharpe
April 21, 2025

Shannon Sharpe Accused of Rape in Civil Lawsuit

The case was filed by an anonymous woman in Nevada.
Netflix
April 17, 2025

Netflix Rises While Markets Slide—Thanks in Part to Live Sports

The streaming giant beats financial expectations as its sports presence grows.
Lee Corso
April 17, 2025

Lee Corso Will Retire From ESPN at 90

The broadcaster is hanging up his headgear in August.
April 15, 2025

WNBA Draft Draws 1.25M Viewers, Second-Best Behind 2.45M Last Year

Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft.