Tom Brady's Raiders Role Under Scrutiny After Disappointing Season

Tom Brady's role with the Las Vegas Raiders is facing fresh questions ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The seven-time Super Bowl champion became a minority owner with a promise of having a major voice in the organization, but after a 3-14 season, another coaching change and a front office shake-up, NFL analyst Mike Florio believes Brady's divided attention could become a bigger concern.

When Brady's minority ownership was approved, Raiders owner Mark Davis made his expectations clear, saying: "I want Tom to have a huge voice…no question about it." Brady has since been involved during a major period of change in Las Vegas. The Raiders moved on from general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce before replacing them with John Spytek and Pete Carroll. Brady was also reported to have played a role in Davis's decision to make those changes, with Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting that Brady "nudged" Davis into firing Telesco and Pierce.

The results, however, did not match the level of influence surrounding Brady. The Raiders finished the 2025 season at 3-14, the worst record in the NFL, and earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Carroll then lasted only one season in Las Vegas. Brady also reportedly wanted Ben Johnson to become the Raiders' head coach, but Johnson ultimately chose the Chicago Bears. That has added another layer to questions about Brady's influence.

Despite the major changes around the team, the Raiders have yet to show that his involvement can produce a clear turnaround. Florio believes the bigger issue is whether Brady can give the Raiders the level of commitment needed to change their direction. "Stop talking about the (Tom) Brady stuff," said Florio. "Stop talking about it. He's not going to make him any better as long as he's doing all this other s**t. So, let him keep doing what he's doing. Let him think that he's in a position to turn this thing around because he's not."

Florio contrasted Brady's situation with that of Matt Ryan, who left CBS before joining the Atlanta Falcons as president of football operations. "I'm more worried about Matt Ryan, I was told, than I am Tom Brady. Because Matt Ryan loaded up the truck and moved to Atlanta. He's there. He didn't try to do both jobs. He's all in, all the time," Florio said.

Florio also addressed the broader issue of NFL broadcasting roles and team affiliations, pointing to Troy Aikman, who works as a consultant for the Miami Dolphins. "Aikman's in a different spot because he's not pretending to be the GM or an owner. He's just kind of an agent out in the field. He's a traveling salesman for the Dolphins. But is it a conflict? Yes. Should the NFL have never allowed it? Absolutely. They should never have allowed it," he said.

Brady's dual role has also drawn scrutiny regarding league restrictions. When his ownership was approved, the league restricted his access to certain Raiders team activities and information due to concerns about his broadcasting role. In September 2025, Brady was seen wearing a headset in the Raiders' coach's booth during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Brady himself has acknowledged the struggles, saying: "There's nobody who did a good job." As the Raiders look ahead to the 2026 season, the effectiveness of Brady's involvement remains an open question, with Florio suggesting that his divided attention may hinder any potential turnaround.