Tom Brady’s possible role in the ownership of the Raiders would end the talks of a return once and for all

Rumors that Tom Brady has returned to playing football have been circulating in recent years because he cannot completely shut them down. After all, the Goat came out of retirement once.

But once his dream of being part of an NFL team is realized, any dream of playing football again will be dead.

Multiple league sources tell CBS Sports that even if Brady is accepted as part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, he will not be allowed to play for an NFL team — including the Raiders.

This is a change from the league level in the spring of 2023 when the NFL confirms that Brady can have a part of the Raiders and play them if a third of the team owners agree with it. Now, no such elections could happen, sources say.

That’s because of the July 2023 rule change to the league’s ownership policy that the NFL’s finance committee recommended, which the owners ultimately passed. The law prohibits employees who are not family members of the club owners from having equity in the club.

Brady, or any other player, would be considered an employee under the rule, sources said. The NFL declined to comment on individual cases.

The law resolved “that the member agree and accept the Finance Committee’s policy statement regarding the transfer of group equity involving group employees who are not the Principal Owner or a member of the Principal Owner’s family,” according to a document obtained by CBS Sports.

Sports Business Journal first reported the rule change when it happened.

Brady first reached an agreement with Raiders owner Mark Davis to buy a share of the team in May 2023. The acquisition has been in the hands of the league’s finance committee since then, and the teams’ Several take issue with the Raiders’ budget. Those issues appear to have been resolved, and Brady could be accepted at the league’s October or December meetings.

Brady, who today enters his third season as a FOX broadcaster, has a small stake in the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, which is primarily owned by Davis. He also has a minority stake in English football club Birmingham City.

Brady initially retired in January 2022, but he retired a month later and returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On March 1, 2023, Brady retired “for good,” he said.

A few times since then, Brady wouldn’t completely close the door on a second retirement. In an April podcast, he acknowledged the possibility of a comeback — as well as the potential pitfalls of it.

“I’m not against it,” Brady said on the “Deep Cut” podcast. “I don’t know if they’ll let me if I own an NFL team. But I don’t know if — I don’t know. I’ll always be in good shape, always be able to throw the ball. So, getting in a little bit , like MJ [Michael Jordan] coming back? I don’t know if they’ll let me, but I won’t be against it. “

NFL rules would be against it, though. The league made a change as the playing field began to change. Lionel Messi has acquired a piece of Inter Miami as part of his deal to come to Major League Soccer. Aaron Rodgers and Caleb Williams reportedly inquired about equity stakes before finally signing standard contracts.

When they passed the law, NFL owners mentioned several reasons why it was necessary to avoid giving employees pieces of the team. Issues such as what happens to equity if an employee moves to another group, or the potential for a wage gap were all cited as reasons to block the practice.

“There’s never a bad time for owners to close the door on someone trying to be stronger than them,” one high-level NFL team source said.

There have always been laws against one person being an employee of many groups. Even before this law, Brady could not be part of the Raiders and play for another team.

Additionally, league sources tell CBS Sports that the NFL has made room for a potential deal now that private equity firms are allowed to own teams. Sources say an NFL employee will not be part of a private equity firm buying a minority stake in an NFL team.

This summer, the league approved a rule allowing team owners to sell up to 10% of their team to select private equity firms.