LAS VEGAS — Tom Brady spent more than two decades proving that nobody could question his commitment to football. Now the question isn’t whether Brady is committed. It’s whether he’s committed to too many things at once.
As Brady begins his third season as Fox’s No. 1 NFL analyst and his second full season as a minority owner with significant influence over the Las Vegas Raiders, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has made one thing clear: He has no intention of choosing between the two. Brady believes he can do both.
“I just focus on what I need to do to be prepared,” Brady recently told Sports Business Journal. “That’s what I did as a player, and I go out there every week as a broadcaster and try to do the same thing.”
Brady dismissed much of the criticism surrounding his dual roles as “clickbait.” But the question isn’t going away. As Brady’s influence over the Raiders continues to grow, it shouldn’t.
Brady Is Much More Than a Typical Minority Owner
Brady’s official title says minority owner. His influence appears considerably larger. He has become involved in some of the Raiders’ most important football decisions as the organization attempts to build a sustainable winner under general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak recently revealed that he spoke with Brady “multiple times a week” before deciding that Kirk Cousins would open the season as the starting quarterback over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
That detail alone provides an indication of Brady’s involvement. Las Vegas has placed its future in Mendoza’s hands. How the Raiders develop him could determine the direction of the franchise for the next decade.
Brady arguably the most accomplished quarterback in NFL history understandably has a voice in that process. The question is how large that voice can realistically become when every football season also requires Brady to prepare for Fox’s biggest NFL broadcast each week.
Broadcasting Isn’t a Part-Time Job
Brady’s television responsibilities involve far more than showing up Sunday afternoon and talking about football for three hours. Preparation requires film study, research, production meetings and constant communication with Fox’s broadcast team.
Brady acknowledged how invested he has become in that process. “I have a lot to prove to myself, to my teammates,” Brady said. “I have a lot to prove to the executives. I want to go earn it and I don’t want anything given to me.”
He also described the relationships he’s developed inside Fox. “We have seminars. We have off-site retreats. We have text threads with all of us,” Brady said. “It feels like a big family in so many ways, and I was not really expecting that when I decided to take the job.”
Fernando Mendoza Could Ultimately Determine How This Is Judged
Nothing will define Brady’s influence over the Raiders more than what happens with Mendoza. Las Vegas didn’t use the No. 1 overall pick on Mendoza simply to find another quarterback.
The Raiders drafted him to change the direction of the franchise. Brady’s experience could be invaluable. There may be no better mentor for teaching a young quarterback about preparation, leadership, reading defenses and handling the expectations that come with playing the position.
But mentoring a quarterback and helping operate an NFL franchise aren’t the same thing. If Brady wants meaningful influence over personnel, coaching and organizational decisions, the time commitment becomes considerably greater. That’s where the Fox question becomes legitimate.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
