Tom Brady Rumors on Influence In Raiders' Front Office Ahead of Crucial NFL Offseason

Despite having only a five percent ownership stake in the organization, Tom Brady is reportedly very influential in football decisions for the Las Vegas Raiders as they look ahead to an offseason in which they could make some significant changes.

Per The Athletic's Michael Silver, Raiders controlling owner Mark Davis has treated Brady "as the de facto boss when it comes to football matters" since he joined the organization in October 2024.

Silver went on to add that people in the organization who work under Davis, general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll "don't know the answer" to exactly how much input Brady had on the decisions Vegas made last offseason:

"What role, for example, did Brady play in the decision to hire then-73-year-old Pete Carroll to coach a team clearly in need of a protracted rebuild? Who spearheaded the ill-fated move to make Chip Kelly the league's highest-paid offensive coordinator, or to trade a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Geno Smith (and to give Smith a two-year, $75-million extension, more annually than Darnold would have cost)?

"Were those Brady's calls? Did Davis, the primary owner desperate for Brady's guidance, weigh in? Were first-year general manager John Spytek and Carroll granted the authority to do what they felt was best?"

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported last month that Brady isn't at Vegas' facilities on a daily basis, but he has daily communication with people in the building.

Silver reported last summer that Brady was opposed to the Raiders pursuing Sam Darnold in free agency. He also gave a "major sign-off" for them to acquire Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Everything the Raiders did last offseason from an on-field standpoint blew up in their face. Smith has been a huge disappointment, leading the NFL with 17 intercecptions entering Week 18.

Chip Kelly, who signed a deal to become the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL, was fired after a Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Carroll's status is unclear at this point, but there's some belief he will be one-and-done.

The Raiders are also in a position where they might have to smooth things over with star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby, who didn't seem thrilled when they announced he was being placed on injured reserve prior to Week 17 due to a knee injury that will require surgery.

One piece of good news for Brady and the Raiders is they are on track to have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, giving them an opportunity to either select a potential difference-making player with that selection or shop it around in a trade that could get them multiple high-level pieces.

The Raiders need all the help they can get right now with a 2-14 record entering Sunday's season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. They have had four consecutive losing seasons and have just two playoff appearances since 2003.