Tom Brady\'s arrival as Las Vegas Raiders minority owner in 2024 was supposed to herald a new era for the franchise, but his limited presence and failed personnel decisions contributed to continued dysfunction during a 3-14 season. ESPN interviewed 22 people in and around the team, which revealed an organization hampered by misaligned leadership and a part-time decision-maker.
Brady visited training camp and attended just three regular season games in person. He lives in Florida and travels weekends to work NFL games for Fox, limiting his availability despite wielding significant influence over football decisions.
\"It\'s a full-time job running a football team, making decisions in personnel,\" said a former Raiders assistant coach. \"And they got a guy who calls games on Sunday giving them input on who they should hire and sign as a QB.\"
\"Tom has never run a team,\" said a former Raiders personnel executive. \"I keep telling people, like Tom has all this influence, but Tom isn\'t in the building and he doesn\'t have any experience with this.\"
Brady\'s preferred coaching candidate Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears job before Las Vegas could make an offer. Johnson initially had zero interest in interviewing until Brady got involved through intermediaries according to Sports Illustrated, but the Raiders\' history proved too much to overcome.
Brady recruited Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in February with the Raiders willing to offer a two-year deal worth $90 million to $100 million per multiple reports. Stafford chose to sign an extension in Los Angeles instead.
The Athletic reported Brady was not in favor of signing free agent quarterback Sam Darnold. The Raiders traded for Geno Smith instead while the Seattle Seahawks signed Darnold, who has produced back-to-back 14-win seasons for two different teams.
\"Why couldn\'t they get the coach and the QB that they wanted?\" a personnel executive for another NFL team told ESPN. \"Because people view that place as a place of constant dysfunction. And now Tom is involved and what did this year look like? More dysfunction.\"
Brady was a big advocate for bringing in Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator according to The Athletic. Kelly became the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL despite never working with head coach Pete Carroll previously.
Multiple agents and team sources told ESPN the offense struggled because Kelly\'s practice installs didn\'t work and players were confused about plays. The Raiders fired Kelly after 11 games, marking the third straight season the team dismissed an offensive coordinator midseason.
General manager John Spytek told ESPN he talks to Brady frequently about major decisions. However, some who worked in personnel and coaching for Las Vegas question whether Brady is qualified to advise decision-making given his other commitments.
Brady is involved with wellness, apparel and media brands while calling NFL games every weekend. Former Raiders personnel director Ken Herock told ESPN that effective organizational leadership requires full-time presence.
\"If he\'s going to help with the organization, he needs to be there 24/7, that\'s the way I look at it,\" Herock said. \"I don\'t want an outside adviser giving me advice on something for an hour, and then that\'s it.\"
A former Raiders assistant coach questioned Brady\'s qualifications despite his playing success. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has no front office experience but influences hiring decisions and personnel moves.
\"It\'s a full-time job running a football team, making decisions in personnel,\" the former assistant told ESPN. \"And they got a guy who calls games on Sunday giving them input on who they should hire and sign as a QB.\"
Owner Mark Davis announced Spytek will lead football operations in close collaboration with Brady following Carroll\'s dismissal. The two will guide football decisions including the search for the next head coach, continuing Brady\'s influential role despite his limited partner status.