TOM Brady won't have a choice when it comes to returning - or not - to the NFL due to his potential part-ownership with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The New England Patriots icon, 47, is currently in year one of his 10-year, $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox, which could also see problems because of his pending minority stake in the Raiders.
Rumors have floated about Brady coming out of retirement for a second time since he has still yet to shut them down.
CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones reported late last month that if Brady's minority stake in the Raiders is approved, the move would end any possibility of the former quarterback returning to the game as a player.
Jones did report that there was a chance at one point that Brady could still play for the Raiders if 24 NFL team owners approved the comeback even if he was the Las Vegas minority owner.
However, the report revealed that the loophole has been over as of July 2023 due to a rule change to league ownership policy that the NFL's finance committee recommended, which was approved by the league's owners.
This week, it was revealed that Brady could be getting his ownership stake in the Raiders approved this month.
The Washington Post reported that the NFL owners have an opportunity to sign off on Brady's proposal to become part owner at their meeting in Atlanta this month with a ratification vote.
The decision could also take place at the NFL owners meeting in Dallas in December.
Brady has been in talks for a part-owner deal since the spring of 2023.
Unfortunately for Brady, his role as an NFL analyst for Fox and a potential decrease in the Raiders franchise value has led to his ownership deal stalling.
Brady is also a part-owner of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, also owned by Raiders owner Mark Davis.
Brady's pending co-ownership can also cause issues for his broadcasting job.
ESPN reported in August that the NFL will place the Fox NFL analyst under numerous restrictions if he becomes a part-owner.
Brady will be subject to the league's anti-gambling and tampering policy, should Brady be an owner, per the report.
ESPN also added that he cannot enter another team's facility, watch practices, attend broadcast production meetings, in-person or virtually, and criticize officials or teams.
Brady retired in 2023.
He won seven Super
He has worked alongside play-by-play commentator Kevin Burkhardt on Fox's NFL broadcast team.
As for his potential minority stake in the Raiders, it's not known what percentage of the Las Vegas franchise Brady would receive, or how much he is paying for it.
Bowl titles during his 23-year career.
Brady is regarded as the best signal-caller of all time.
