Roger Goodell Breaks Silence on Ownership of Tom Brady’s Raiders; Confirms that long-standing issues have been ‘resolved’

Tom Brady is finally part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The retired quarterback already had his paws back in the NFL thanks to his broadcasting, but has now further entrenched himself in the fabric of the league by committing to a 5% ownership stake in the Sin City franchise.

The duality of Brady’s new positions created controversy. His broadcast responsibilities, which will earn him a whopping $375 million from FOX over the next decade, give him access to every franchise, something outside owners don’t get (for obvious reasons). It raised concerns across the league among non-Raiders owners.

However, after Brady’s bid was approved, these warning signs disappeared. Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the same in his press appearance on Tuesday, saying Brady has had no problems following the rules imposed on him since stepping into the TV booth.

“Tom has adhered to the issues we have voluntarily raised through the committee since he started broadcasting… all of that has been resolved.”

Brady’s next broadcast assignment is a Super Bowl LVIII rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Tom Brady is “excited” to take on an ownership role

It took a while for the league to officially welcome Brady into its ownership wings. Now that he has joined, the GOAT couldn’t hide his eagerness to turn around the Raiders. He posted a lengthy letter on Twitter/X stating that his goal is to do one thing: win games.

Since being blown out in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders have languished in the basement of the NFL. They have had a winning percentage above .500 only twice in the last 22 years. They rank 31st in wins in that time frame, just eight more than the Cleveland Browns (118).

Ironically, the starting point of Brady’s playing career is essentially the moment Las Vegas’ downfall began.

In the 2001 AFC Divisional playoffs, Brady’s New England Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders. With less than two minutes left in regulation and a 13-10 lead, Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson broke free from the right sideline and appeared to sack Brady. Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert recovered the fumble, seemingly sealing the win for Oakland.

However, the officials reviewed the play and determined that Brady had “put away” the ball. They then deemed the result of the play as an incomplete pass, allowing New England to retain possession of the ball.

The Patriots not only went on to tie the now infamous “Tuck Rule” game, but ultimately won in overtime to capture their first Super Bowl. Oakland rebounded to play for the Lombardi Trophy the following season, but hasn’t won a postseason game in 20 years. Now that Brady is in the fold, they hope to change that sooner or later.