For years, there hasn’t been much silence whenever Tom Brady and retirement are mentioned together. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has built a reputation for taking unexpected turns, including making a brief comeback after announcing his retirement in 2021. As a result, rumors of another return tend to circulate whenever Brady is spotted throwing passes or stepping onto a football field.
That chatter resurfaced after Brady turned back the clock with a touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs at the Fanatics flag football game. However, it recently emerged that the NFL legend did reach out to the league about a possible return despite his minority stake in the Raiders.
“I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady told CNBC while promoting his World Cup ad campaign with Ferrero. He further added, “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me just say that, too.”
An NFL spokesperson did provide a potential solution, though it would come at a cost—Brady would have to divest his stake in the Raiders. According to a 2023 policy, active players or team employees are prohibited from holding equity in a team. The spokesperson also noted, “In addition, there would be salary cap issues involving a player/owner.”
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Nevertheless, Brady appears to have moved on and has remained active within the Raiders’ front office. “I’m a minority owner. So, when you’re that, there’s really no job description. I don’t have really a daily role,” he said.
The 48-year-old has vowed to help bring back the glory days of the Raiders. He also has broadcasting responsibilities with Fox, which makes a potential return to the field even more unlikely. At this stage of his career, Brady has little left to prove on the field. Instead, he now appears focused on making an impact with the Raiders through his role in the organization.
