Even after hanging up the cleats, NFL stars can’t seem to escape the spotlight. Tom Brady, now FOX’s lead analyst on a $375 million deal, also owns a 5% minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. And his reach in the football world only keeps growing. That influence may be rubbing off, as another former star is eyeing the same path.

Ryan Clark, the Super Bowl–winning safety turned ESPN analyst, recently admitted he wants a piece of team ownership. “I definitely want to do that. I want an opportunity to win and lose again,” Clark said. He noted how much he still craves the rush of competition after twice winning the AFC with Pittsburgh.

At 45, Clark is entrenched in a media career, but his interest highlights a broader trend of ex-players turning investors. Still, the practice of snagging minority stakes in franchises isn’t without critics—some see it as symbolic, with limited real control, even as the prestige and spotlight remain very real.

Clark, who expressed displeasure over his contract with ESPN earlier this year, has now agreed to a new contract with the same channel.

On February 14, he publicly expressed dissatisfaction with his current agreement. But later, it was revealed that he gave consent for a new contract with ESPN. According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Clark has agreed to a new contract to continue his role at ESPN.

Michael Macarthi of Front Office Sports reports that under the new deal, Ryan Clark will earn over $2 million annually, though the contract length remains undisclosed. The figure places him among ESPN’s highest-paid NFL analysts, even surpassing Mina Kimes’ $1.7 million salary in 2023.

The irony? Clark once criticized Tom Brady for buying into team ownership. Yet now he’s chasing similar ambitions, only with a much heftier paycheck to back him.

Ryan Clark’s criticism of Tom Brady

The pressure cooker exploded when the fans spotted Tom Brady in the coaching booth. During the game between the Raiders and the Chargers, Brady was in the coaching booth. And this was enough.

Although Brady has not yet made any statement on the issue, many former NFL players and analysts are openly expressing their opinion.

Ryan Clark questioned the whole matter and wrote, “Is he getting enough information from teams during his day job to pass along any nuggets? Hell, maybe/ maybe not. What I do know is if anyone could figure some good stuff out… He could!” He posted on X.

Clark also raised concerns that Brady’s sharp football mind—able to process and execute complex schemes—could blur the line between broadcasting and inside access. The fear, he suggested, is that Brady’s dual role might grant him exposure to sensitive team intel under the guise of being an analyst.

NFL insider Dianna Russini echoed the concern, noting that Raiders GM John Spytek and HC Pete Carroll remain in close contact with exec., ex-Raider, Tom Telesco.

This raises eyebrows about how deep Brady’s involvement runs. She said she reached out to Brady for clarity but received no response. Meanwhile, NBC’s Rodney Harrison didn’t mince words, calling it “definitely a conflict of interest,” since former players in media often gain access to privileged on-field information.