ATLANTA – Mark Davis has finally sealed the deal. Well, actually, several deals.

The Las Vegas Raiders officially welcomed Tom Brady as a limited partner on Tuesday, following a unanimous vote from NFL owners that completed a process lasting nearly a year and a half. Additionally, the team finalized a trade sending disgruntled three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional draft pick, bringing an end to nearly a month of tension.

“We traded Davante Adams for Tom Brady and a third-round draft pick,” Davis enthusiastically told reporters in a Buckhead hotel lobby after the conclusion of the NFL owners’ fall meeting.

His cheerful demeanor is understandable, especially after earlier efforts to gain approval for Brady’s ownership stake had met obstacles from the league’s finance committee. Now, Davis can breathe easy; the only player in NFL history to secure seven Super Bowl titles and a superstar personality, enhanced by his role as an analyst for Fox Sports’ top broadcast team, is officially a Raider.

As reported by CNBC, Brady and his partner, Tom Wagner, founder of Knighthead Capital Management, invested around $220 million for a 10% share of the team. Hall of Famer Richard Seymour also acquired a minor stake of less than 1%, according to CNBC.

“Even though Tom isn’t on the field, he can assist us in selecting a future quarterback and potentially train him,” Davis said. “This is a tremendous advantage for our organization.”

This gives the Raiders a considerable edge. However, it also raises questions about a potential conflict of interest that stands in stark contrast to the league’s image of promoting fair competition.

Who will Brady help choose? Train?

Details are still being ironed out, but Brady is set to have a hands-on role in Raiders’ football operations. He is not your typical passive investor. Now, in addition to being a prominent broadcaster, he owns a part of a football team.

Earlier in the discussion, concerns arose regarding Brady’s broadcasting role, specifically how it might grant him exclusive access to team information typically reserved for network crews. To address these worries, the NFL introduced specific guidelines—let’s call them the “Tom Brady Rules”—that impose restrictions on him unlike those on any other broadcaster.

Brady cannot attend team practices or production meetings held by the networks with teams, which often include in-depth interviews with coaches and key players—a crucial element of pre-game preparation.

Davis acknowledges that he might object if roles were reversed. “If an owner from the Chiefs wanted to come in and talk to my head coach and quarterback, I wouldn’t appreciate that either,” he stated. “We’re a bit paranoid in the Raiders organization, so I understand the concerns.”

“I know the coaches and quarterbacks are interested in speaking with him. They won’t disclose everything to him. They don’t share the full story with you reporters either; they control the narrative for what they want the opposing team to hear, leaving it to you to figure out the true meaning.”

With the media access restrictions in place, other NFL owners have come to terms with Brady balancing his broadcasting job and his new role with the Raiders.

“It’s a new situation, so you adapt accordingly,” said Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, to YSL News Sports. “Whether it’s ideal or not, we’ll wait to see. But he has always conducted himself well in my opinion. If there was ever a candidate for ownership who could handle it, he would be the one.”

Although Brady is barred from attending production meetings or practices (and is not allowed to publicly criticize officials or opposing teams), nothing stops him from leveraging his extensive network and contacting executives, players, coaches, or staff.

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, would readily accept a call from Brady. So far this season, Brady has been assigned to analyze four Cowboys games.

“He hasn’t reached out yet, but I’ve seen him,” Jones told YSL News Sports. “I might meet him during pregame. I’m comfortable discussing football with him. He knows our team well enough to identify our weaknesses. He’s qualified for that, and I appreciate his approach.”

Given Jones’ willingness to engage with the media, it’s likely he wouldn’t mind if there were no restrictions in place.

“I’m more open to gathering information before a game and understanding how it influences the outcome,” noted Jones. “Certainly, someone with Brady’s experience knows the boundaries.”

It’s worth mentioning that in 1992, Jones became the first owner to permit ESPN cameras in the draft room, a move that may have frustrated coach Jimmy Johnson.

“You have to trust that people will go in there and hear and see what they shouldn’t,” said Jones. “I’ve never regretted having those cameras there.”

Ultimately, the conflict-of-interest discussion may be only superficial. Considering the vast financial implications in the NFL, earlier complications likely revolved more around money than Brady’s access to the media. While Davis declined to comment on the financial aspects of the agreement due to non-disclosure agreements, Forbes estimates the Raiders rank as the seventh-most valuable NFL franchise, valued at $6.7 billion in 2024. Questions arose regarding whether Brady’s investment reflected an appropriate valuation relative to the team’s worth.

Last spring, an NFL owner, who spoke to YSL News Sports anonymously while the purchase was in process, referred to Brady’s deal as a “pretty boy discount.”

The discount may appear even greater now than when Brady first made a deal with Davis, especially considering that the Raiders’ franchise value has continuously increased since their relocation from Oakland to Allegiant Stadium in 2020, which was funded by taxpayers.

Eventually, once the finance committee (led by Clark Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs) approved the agreements, the other NFL owners unanimously supported the stakes of Brady, Wagner, and Seymour with a 32-0 vote.

For Davis, he has finally secured a highly sought-after partner—one whose presence as an ownership associate carries significant weight.

About four and a half years ago, Davis attempted to sign Brady as a free agent, but Brady chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went on to win another Super Bowl. Despite this, Davis remained in contact with Brady’s agent, Don Yee, expressing his desire to eventually include Brady in the organization.

“The groundwork was laid back then, and it has now come to fruition,” Davis remarked.

This partnership is surprising given that Brady was once seen as a rival. His inaugural Super Bowl drive with the New England Patriots was influenced by a controversial victory over the Raiders in a snowy AFC divisional playoff game, during which a call about an apparent fumble was reversed due to the notorious “Tuck Rule,” allowing the Patriots to score the game-winning field goal.

“Tom is someone I didn’t particularly care for for many years,” Davis humorously admitted. “But we’ve had our share of conflicts, and ultimately, it’s the officials who make the controversial calls, not the players. He acknowledged that it was indeed a fumble—those details are crucial.”

This dynamic has led Brady and Davis to team up in pursuit of a new kind of Super mission.