Tom Brady Breaks Silence On Purchase Of NFL Team Finally Being Approved

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady issued a statement after his purchase of an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders was finally approved by the NFL on Tuesday (October 15).

"I'm incredibly humbled and excited to have been unanimously approved as an owner of the Las Vegas Raiders," Brady said in a statement shared on his X account. "Throughout my NFL career, I've learned that at its core, football is a game of teamwork, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The Raiders franchise, and the city of Las Vegas embody these same values, and I'm honored to become part of that story.

"Football has been part of my entire life growing up in the Bay Area and in so many ways, my football life and journey has come full circle. I love the sport, I love my teammates, coaches, and the fans in every organization I've been part of. Sports brings us together in a way nothing else can. I grew up on the field, and it's a blessing to know I'll be involved in the greatest league in the world for the rest of my life."

"I'm eager to contribute to the organization in any way I can, honoring the Raiders' rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans...and most importantly, WIN football games. #JustWinBaby #LFG," he added.

On Saturday (October 12), ESPN 's Adam Schefter reported that the NFL's finance committee reviewed Brady's bid and would hold a vote among the league's majority owners, which would need to be approved by 24 of 32 owners. Brady, along with businessman Tom Wagner , initially agreed to a deal to purchase approximately 10% of the Raiders in May 2023, however, the deal needed to be refined and adjusted after the financial committee argued that it was too discounted upon agreement. Brady's longtime former New England Patriots teammate, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end, also purchased a 0.5% stake in the franchise that was approved by the league.

Brady and Seymour will join late Chicago Bears founder George Halas and late Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson as the only former NFL players to have ownership of a franchise. Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract to serve as FOX Sports ' new lead NFL analyst in May 2022, weeks after he announced his decision to un-retire and return for his 23rd NFL season.

The deal was set to take place upon the conclusion of Brady's NFL career, however, the seven-time Super Bowl champion opted to spend a gap year with his children and prepare for the role. Brady is the NFL's all-time passing leader for yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624), as well as quarterback wins (243), among numerous other records.

The San Mateo native spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, leading the franchise to an NFL record six Super Bowl championships (tied with the Steelers), before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in March 2020, which resulted in Tampa Bay winning its second Super Bowl in franchise history, becoming the first NFL team to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium, in February 2021.