Tom Brady confirmed this week what many suspected: The seven-time Super Bowl champion explored a return to the NFL, but the league shut down his idea.
NFL’s Ownership Rule Creates an Impassable Barrier for Tom Brady
In an interview with CNBC, Brady revealed he had inquired about returning while maintaining his minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The response was unambiguous.
“I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady told CNBC. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired.”
The league’s objection centers on a 2023 policy that prohibits active players or team employees from holding equity in a franchise. Brady purchased a 5% stake in the Raiders in 2024 as part of a deal that valued the franchise at $3.5 billion. He and business partner Tom Wagner paid a combined $220 million for a shared 10% stake, with Raiders Hall of Famer Richard Seymour also acquiring a 0.5% stake.
An NFL spokesperson told CNBC that Brady would need to divest his entire ownership stake before returning to play. The league also cited salary cap complications inherent in a player-owner arrangement.
The concerns aren’t about Brady’s ability to compete at 48. They’re about competitive integrity, potential cap manipulation, and the optics of a player who could influence personnel decisions while also suiting up on Sundays.
Brady acknowledged he serves in a “strategic advisory role” with the Raiders, helping the front office with personnel and coaching decisions. That involvement only compounds the conflict-of-interest issues the league wants to avoid.
Brady’s Flag Football Performance Fueled Comeback Speculation
The timing of Brady’s admission followed his appearance at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Brady threw for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns over 2 games, connecting with Stefon Diggs for a score on his first competitive throw in more than 1,000 days. He also hit Rob Gronkowski for a 2-point conversion, showcasing the chemistry that defined their years together in New England.
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Brady’s team, coached by Sean Payton, lost both of its games, but the GOAT showed he can still deliver strikes. His first touchdown came after evading a free rusher and stepping up in the pocket on 4th-and-goal. The visual of Brady slinging darts at 48 years old naturally reignited comeback talk.
Why Brady’s FOX Deal Makes a Return Even Less Likely
Beyond the ownership conflict, Brady’s broadcasting commitments present another hurdle. He signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with FOX in 2022, making him the highest-paid sports analyst in history at $37.5 million annually. That figure approaches what he earned in his highest-paid single NFL season, his $39.4 million in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brady’s agent, Don Yee, has stated his client intends to fulfill the entire contract. Abandoning a guaranteed $375 million to pursue a comeback that would require divesting from the Raiders makes little financial sense.
Brady turns 49 in August, and the door for his return isn’t just closed, it’s locked from multiple sides. The seven-time Super Bowl champion threw for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions in his final NFL season.
According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Brady finished the campaign as the 21st-ranked quarterback in the league with an impact score of 73.4.
