Raiders Rumors: Tom Brady Would Be Allowed to Play and Own Team If NFL Vote Passes

Tom Brady's insistent he's done playing football, but the NFL may be opening the door for him for a return with the Las Vegas Raiders.

An NFL spokesperson told TMZ Sports that the retired quarterback could play with the Raiders once his ownership stake is approved—provided a separate vote allowing him to hold both roles as an owner and player passes. Both votes would need a three-fourths majority to pass.

Brady announced his second retirement in February—the exact anniversary of his first NFL exit. The future Hall of Famer would walk back his retirement a month later, returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 23rd and final season.

While it's largely expected this retirement will stick, Brady refused to rule out playing again in April and joined the Raiders ownership group earlier this month. His minority share requires approval, but that is not expected to receive much pushback.

What could ultimately complicate matters is Brady deciding to return and play for the Raiders next season. It's possible other owners could look at Brady becoming an owner and player as a form of salary cap circumvention.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported some owners may want assurances Brady will remain retired before approving his ownership stake.

This all seems like a lot of hemming and hawing about nothing. Brady was a free agent in March. If he wanted to play, he could have simply signed in Las Vegas and done so on a below-market deal; it wouldn't be the first time Brady's taken less money on his contract.

The Raiders signing Jimmy Garoppolo and then bringing Brady in to serve as a player-owner is such an unnecessary complication that it defies logic. It's possible Las Vegas is having buyer's remorse on Garoppolo given his lingering foot injury, but again, there has been nothing stopping the team from signing Brady to a standard playing contract.

The overwhelming likelihood is Brady will remain retired and his very small ownership stake will sail through with ease.