Tom Brady’s minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders comes with some restrictions, some of which could impact his role as lead NFL analyst with FOX Sports.
Tom Brady’s position at FOX Sports could be under threat due to his minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, who retired from the NFL in 2022 after a 23-year career, signed a 10-year, £300million ($375m) deal with FOX Sports to serve as their lead NFL analyst.
However, his recent purchase of a minority stake in the Raiders, approved by NFL owners in October, has led to restrictions that could affect his role with FOX.
According to Bleacher Report, these include not being able to access another team’s facility, watch their practice sessions, or attend production meetings for NFL broadcasts.
He is also reportedly prohibited from criticising match officials and other NFL teams. Pro Football Talk insider Mike Florio discussed the situation on John Ourand’s ‘The Varsity’ podcast, saying: “There’s an interesting theory that’s making the rounds in league circles, because there had been teams that have said to the league, ‘We want Tom Brady to be involved in the production meetings.’
“And through that push and pull because the league says no, no, no, no, no exceptions even if you waive it. It doesn’t matter.”
Tom Brady has a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders (Image: Getty Images)
Mike Florio recently speculated that Brady might not be as eager for certain roles as it seems, saying: “There’s been a sense that maybe Brady doesn’t really want to do it anyway.
“Because you think of how thinly he’s spread, all of the different things that he’s doing, it may not be that he wants to be the absolute best at everything he does.
“It may just be that he wants us to think he’s the absolute best at everything that he does, and he’s doing a lot of different things and he’s making a lot of different appearances and he’s making a lot of money.”
He went on to suggest that Brady’s active involvement in various ventures could detract from his excellence: “Him being an owner and him being a broadcaster I think it keeps him from being the absolute best he could ever be.
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“And it just always seemed beneath him – he’s Tom Brady… I just wonder how many years he’ll continue to do it.”
The commitment is substantial; according to Sports Pro Media, Brady’s ownership stake in the Raiders is five per cent, part of a deal valued at £174m ($220m). This stake not only limits what Brady can express and engage in with FOX but also blocks any possibility of him returning to play.
Until recently, rumors had connected him with a switch to Miami Dolphins, but it seems he’s now off the field for good. Come Sunday, the Raiders are set to face the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.