New Raiders Owner Tom Brady: Win for the NFL, Win for the Raiders, Win for TB: "Just Win Baby"
with Kalle Kizzier
When Al Davis first coined the iconic Raiders mantra "Just win, baby!" during his tenure as owner of the Oakland Raiders, he established a legacy of a relentless pursuit of excellence. Now, with the winningest player in NFL history, Tom Brady, stepping into an ownership role for the Las Vegas Raiders, that ethos may finally get back on track after decades of underachieving. Today, the NFL formally approved Brady's bid to become a part-owner of the Raiders, marking another chapter in the league's growing list of celebrity owners.
Celebrity ownership is far from new in the NFL. Serena and Venus Williams, Fergie, Marc Anthony, and others own a small piece of the Miami Dolphins. Magic Johnson recently joined the ownership ranks by acquiring a piece of the Washington Commanders. Other sports have also embraced this trend, with Mario Lemieux's stake saving the Pittsburgh Penguins, Michael Jordan's prior ownership of the Charlotte Hornets, and Lionel Messi's investment in Inter Miami. Brady's move to the Raiders fits right into this modern landscape of athlete and celebrity-driven sports ownership.
Tom Brady becoming the next celebrity owner is a huge win for the NFL. It adds another element to the formula that is seeing the value of NFL franchises skyrocket. According to CNBC, the Raiders' valuation is a staggering $7.8 billion, with Brady's stake adding a premium. The NFL has put emphasis on increasing the pool of "well-heeled minority partners", which will allow for "auction type bidding" for future franchises. In August, NFL owners approved private equity firms being able to purchase up to 10% of equity under certain conditions. As long as these trends continue, the NFL will remain the most expensive and coveted professional sports league in the world.
For the Raiders, Brady's involvement adds a layer of prestige, momentum, and, finally, having a true winner in the building. The Davis family has owned the team since its inception, and while Mark Davis has been the face since his father's passing, Brady brings a renewed sense of "just win, baby" energy. Since the team's move to Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium has added glamour and stability, but the team's consistently poor play over the past 20 years (an abysmal 122-207 record since 2004) makes Brady's presence even more vital. To put it bluntly, the Raiders have been losers, and Brady has been the ultimate winner this millennium.
As of now, this is another win for Tom Brady. The 10% ownership stake solidifies his post-playing career as a heavy hitter in the 1.3 trillion-dollar business of sports. Brady is already an investor in the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, and his strong partners and a clear path to future control of the Raiders bolster his financial credibility. With no heirs to the Davis family throne and no football-oriented ownership members, Brady could set himself for the necessary 30% stake to become a majority owner in the future.
Let's see what happens with the Chinese wall between journalism and ownership regarding his role with Fox, where he already is restricted access to team facilities, meetings, etc. due to the process of purchasing a stake in an NFL team. This will all have to play out, but as of now, it is an overwhelming win, win, win for the NFL, the industry, and the Raiders.
