TOM Brady has been approved by NFL owners to purchase a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in a move commissioner Roger Goodell said was a great sign of the health of the league.
The seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback turned Fox broadcaster will take about 5% control of the team after winning the unanimous support of club owners at their meeting in Atlanta, multiple media outlets reported.
“It’s great that Tom Brady wants to invest in the NFL,” Goodell told reporters after the meeting.
“He cares deeply about this game, he believes in its future, and I think that’s just a signal about it.”
Brady, 47, said he was “humbled and excited” to become an NFL owner.
“I’m excited 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,” he wrote in a statement posted to X.
“And most importantly, WIN football games,” he said before echoing late Raiders owner Al Davis’ motto “Just win, baby,” in a hashtag.
Former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour was also approved to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders.
“I’m deeply grateful–humbled and honored–to become an NFL owner,” Seymour posted to X.
Goodell said more former players could be making the move from the field to the ownership box in the near future.
“You see two examples here with both Richard and Tom but there are others. . .that are potentially going to be in process in the very near future,” Goodell said.
“We think that’s a great thing. . . One–they have the financial ability to do it–and two – I think they add a lot to the ownership.
“I love, not just the diversity of it but the diversity of thought in the context of what’s good for the game, what can we do better, how do we improve, how do we get bigger, how do we continue to expand our game on all fronts,” he said.
“So, I think all that’s positive. The players have a really important perspective, and I think they’d be great owners. So, we encourage that.”
