No one saw Tom Brady’s second retirement coming. Well, some may have suspected it, but the Raiders were well off the radar. Brady’s second and final retirement came as a shock to many as it was expected that he would likely be signing with a new team from the free agent market for the new season. The Las Vegas Raiders were amongst the top teams the seven-time Super Bowl winner was expected to sign up with. However, his decision to quit the game completely had an unexpected effect on the quarterback depth chart that left the Raiders with a player who was not even their second choice. 

Brady might not have joined the Raiders as a franchise player, but his recent entrepreneurial aspirations with the team have made headlines, regardless. However, his fate seems to resemble the Jets’ injured star quarterback and a yet-to-debut NFL rising star. 

“That was not the plan”: Raiders insider spills the tea 

Hondo Carpenter, a Sports Illustrated insider, provided valuable insights on the internal mechanisms during an appearance on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast. According to Carpenter, the Las Vegas Raiders’ interest in Brady was indeed serious. Jimmy Garoppolo, with his careless turnovers and string of injuries, was not their top priority in free agency. “There was no tampering, but the Raiders believed they were getting Tom Brady…you don’t get rid of a Derek Carr for a Jimmy Garoppolo, and that was not the plan…”

“So, their third choice was Jimmy Garoppolo,” he revealed. Had Brady not been available, the team would never have parted ways with Derek Carr. Tensions brewed between the Raiders’ head coach, Josh McDaniel, and Derek Carr toward the end of the season, and a separation was inevitable. Carr was on his way out, and while the team initially aimed to trade him, he ended up being released in February. Subsequently, he signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. 

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In an ideal NFL situation, the Raiders would have Brady as the starting quarterback and recruit a rookie to train after him, eventually filling his shoes once the veteran retired. However, that dream might still be fulfilled, only under a slightly different hierarchy. 

Brady’s entrepreneurial adventure with the Raiders

The 49-year-old NFL legend has had his plate full since his retirement in February. He has shifted his focus from playing the field to playing the role of an investor. Five months ago, he reportedly made a significant investment by acquiring 6 percent ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders through an agreement with team owner Mark Davis. Though nothing has been officially signed, there seem to be inherent problems with the move. 

According to Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer, some NFL owners have reservations about Tom Brady’s investment. The concern stems from the sale price, as Brady’s 6 percent ownership would equate to approximately $372 million based on Forbes’ valuation of $6.1 billion for the Las Vegas Raiders. Owners worry that if Brady gets a discount on shares, it might affect the value of their organization. Moreover, Brady is set to take up the role as a broadcaster for FOX starting next season, which might also be against the interest of other teams. Brady, being an official owner, might share broadcasting intel with the team. 

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And finally, the league itself has prohibitions against former players acquiring shares of current NFL teams, as seen in the case of another NFL icon. Aaron Rodgers’ dreams of acquiring shares of the New York Jets were left unfilled. And so is expected of Caleb Williams, the potential No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft 2024, who wished to acquire a portion of his recruiting team. 

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