Tom Brady rejected top-tier quarterback in first big move as Raiders part-owner

The Las Vegas Raiders brought Tom Brady in as a part-owner to help build a better team. The legendary quarterback has already made his first big decision—and it involved rejecting the arrival of a top-tier quarterback.

When Tom Brady announced his retirement in 2023, many wanted to keep him connected to the game. Fox Sports quickly secured him with a lucrative 10-year deal to make him their lead NFL analyst.

However, the seven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t just want to analyze football—he wanted to stay closely involved with it. That desire led him to acquire a minority ownership stake in the Raiders, giving him a more hands-on role within the league.

Tom Brady reportedly blocked the Raiders from signing a highly sought-after quarterback

Even in retirement, Tom Brady has remained deeply connected to the NFL. While initially planning to work only as an analyst, he ultimately chose to step into team management with the Raiders.

Mark Davis welcomed him into the franchise, hoping Brady’s experience would help guide the organization back to relevance. Since then, Brady has reportedly been more involved in football operations and roster decisions.

According to Michael Silver of The Athletic, Brady played a direct role in one of the team’s most important offseason moves. A source close to the organization revealed that Brady advised the Raiders not to sign quarterback Sam Darnold, who was considered one of the top free agents after the Vikings chose not to extend him.

“While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady—a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway—was not in favor of that approach, according to a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions,” Silver wrote.

Instead, Las Vegas went with Geno Smith, who parted ways with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this offseason. Smith is expected to compete for the starting role in 2025.

Only time will tell whether Brady made the right call—or if his first major decision as part-owner turns out to be a costly mistake.