NFL team owners voted Tuesday to approve Tom Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, a move he called “a blessing to know that I will be involved with the greatest league in the world for the rest of my life.” world’.

“Throughout my NFL career, I have learned that football, at its core, is a game of teamwork, resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Brady said in a statement to X. “The Raiders franchise and the city of Las Vegas embodies the same values and I’m honored to be part of that story.”

Brady thanked Raiders owner Mark Davis for “welcoming me to his family and the tireless work he has done to help build the organization that so many fans know and love today.”

“Tom is someone I didn’t really like for years,” Davis told reporters after Tuesday’s league meetings concluded, referencing the infamous Tuck Rule controversy in 2002. “He did admit it was a fumble. So that are important aspects of the situation. We’re just very proud to have him as a partner.

“Although Tom cannot play, I believe he can help us select and possibly coach a quarterback in the future.”

Brady said in his statement that he “is eager to contribute to the organization in any way possible, honoring the rich tradition of the Raiders while taking every possible opportunity to enhance our offering to fans… and, most importantly, to WIN football matches.” “

Davis declined to provide details about Brady’s role with the Raiders, out of respect for Brady’s job as a broadcaster for Fox. Davis said one of the sticking points in the 17-month process was Brady’s dual role as announcer and potential team owner.

While Brady’s bid was pending, the league imposed a series of restrictions on him as a broadcaster that he has been following since he started working for Fox. Brady is not allowed to participate in weekly production meetings with the players and coaches of the games he will cover, he is not allowed to be in another team’s facility and he is not allowed to attend practices. Those restrictions will continue to exist.

“I think a lot of owners around the league felt that this was a potential conflict,” said Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, chairman of the finance committee that addressed the conflicts of interest with Brady’s ownership. “It’s hard to know if it will be an actual conflict, but it could be a potential conflict or a perceived conflict.”

“Tom is committed to the issues we have voluntarily raised through the committee since he began broadcasting,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “So that’s all resolved.”

Davis said he understands the concerns because his father, Al Davis, was known for protecting all Raiders information.

“We’re paranoid, that’s what we are with the Raiders,” Davis said. “I know the coaches and the quarterbacks want to talk to him. They’re not going to tell him the full story, and they’re not going to give you the full story. When they talk, they tell you what they want the other team to do. belongs.”

The Dallas Cowboys, who have had Brady’s Fox broadcast crew four times this season, are among the teams that prefer Brady to be in production meetings during the week.

Cowboys communications director Tad Carper told ESPN that he has informed Fox producers and the league office that Cowboys coaches want Brady to be present at production meetings so he can have the full context to express their decision-making in games to the Fox audience lay. .

Another obstacle in Brady’s path to Raiders ownership was the possibility of him resuming his playing career. In July 2023, the owners voted to ban non-family employees from owning stock in a team, meaning Brady would have to sell his stake in the Raiders in order to play for another team.

Goodell downplayed the 17 months it took for Brady to be approved as the Raiders’ minority partner.

“Property transactions take a long time,” he said.

Hunt added: “There were a lot of things that needed to be done from a structure and due diligence perspective, which is why it took so long to get approved. We finally put all that together and are pleased to have completed the transaction. I know that the finance committee is happy not to talk about it anymore.”

Goodell hopes the recently approved ownership of Brady and Raiders Hall of Famer Richard Seymour will inspire other former players to explore the property.

“I think there’s a lot of interest,” Goodell said. “And I encouraged them. …There are more that may be underway in the very near future.

“I think they add a lot to ownership. I like not only the diversity of it, but also the diversity of thought, in the context of what is good for the game. What can we do better? How can we improve? are we getting bigger? How can we continue to expand our purpose in every way?”