Tom Brady's first years as a Raiders owner are facing harsh scrutiny after an NFL insider called him partially responsible for the franchise's collapse an 2-9 start to the season
20:46 ET, 26 Nov 2025
Tom Brady talks at Allegiant Stadium
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Tom Brady's Raiders influence has been criticized by the press
When Tom Brady was announced to have a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, fans and insiders assumed it was a vanity move that would refuse to remain in the background due to his star power. The first portion of his time with the team has been disappointing so far, and insiders are now pointing fingers at him.
The Raiders have sunk to the bottom of the AFC West with a 2-9 record, virtually eliminating any chance of making the playoffs. The Broncos dominate the division at 9-2, the Chargers remain in the hunt at 6-5, and the Chiefs attempt to secure a spot in the postseason at 6-5.
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Brady is only a minority owner, yet his influence has been framed as heavy enough that some league voices believe he deserves direct blame for the team’s failures.
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NBC's Mike Florio believes that Brady's role in shaping a franchise has much to do with their demise this season. The blame arose as Brady's on-air mistake between the Cowboys and Eagles led fans to initially believe he used the N-word on live TV.
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"The heat, the pressure, and the focus are going to be more and more on Tom Brady because Mark Davis is doing whatever he tells him," Florio said on Pro Football Talk Live. "Brady is partially responsible for the current state of the team.
"He was involved in the hiring of Pete Carroll. He was involved in the hiring of Chip Kelly. He was involved in the decision to make Geno Smith the quarterback. It’s just not working. That’s the thing, Tom. You want to do this, but you can’t clone yourself. One to be the Raiders owner, the other to work for FOX.
"If this doesn’t work, the blame falls on you. Nobody else, Tom, you’re taking the blame. It’s not working, and it’s splashing onto you. So don’t act like you’ve got a bunch of other things to do or that you’ve delegated. No, it’s on you if this team continues to stink."
Tom Brady encouraged the Raiders players during training camp
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Brady's influence appears on the field and throughout the Raiders' leadership
While Brady never addressed juggling all three roles of analyst, owner, and front office presence to perfection, he did say that there would be no conflict of interest between his responsibilities. That was before he was spotted in the playcalling booth wearing a headset during the team's game against the Chargers.
The Raiders have lost five straight games, have not scored more than 16 points in three weeks, and sit at or near the bottom of nearly every major statistical category. Brady was influential in hiring Carroll and general manager John Spytek, who worked with him during Tampa Bay's championship run.
Tom Brady heads to the broadcast booth for his first game in the fall of 2024
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Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders and FOX's lead NFL analyst(Image: Getty)
The Raiders' 165 total points are the second-fewest in the league. Their 277 points allowed tells a story of a roster with no balance, no firepower, and the inability to stop anyone except the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. Pro Football Focus ranked the team dead last in the league.
The moves tied to him reflect a front office searching for answers. Las Vegas traded away Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville for fourth and sixth-round picks and now has no players inside the league's top 35 in yards. Seattle's Jaxson Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,313 yards, while the Raiders have totaled only 2,843 as a team.
Tom Brady sits with Aaron Rodgers
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Tom Brady has faced conflict of interests accusations all season(Image: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Three days later, the team dismissed special teams coordinator Tom McMahon following a blocked punt and a missed crucial 48-yard attempt that prevented a tie against the Broncos.
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Las Vegas also dismissed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after their 24–10 loss to Cleveland.