Tom Brady is officially a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He is expected to have a significant say in the changes and the franchise’s decisions in the upcoming offseason.
The Raiders are 2-11 heading into their Week 15 fixture against the Atlanta Falcons. There’s a high possibility that the team could move on from Antonio Pierce, as he hasn’t been successful after becoming the team’s permanent head coach.
Jordan Schultz Enlightens Tom Brady’s Impact on Raiders HC Job
With the Raiders possibly hiring a new head coach this offseason, NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently spoke on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” about the franchise’s possible approach.
“Mark Davis, earlier this week in Dallas, said that he likes how hard the guys are still playing,” Schultz said. “So, that’s a good thing, and I think we both like Antonio Pierce. The bigger question is, ‘Is Mark Davis going to want to pay three different head coaches [Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, and Pierce] who are no longer in the building?'”
The #Raiders have had a difficult year. What we should expect from owner Mark Davis with his head coach — and where Tom Brady comes into play.
(📺 @TheHerd with @colincowherd) pic.twitter.com/BH4jMfPYkG
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 16, 2024
Schultz later mentioned that since Brady will have a say in the Raiders’ decisions, Mike Vrabel will be a potential candidate to be Pierce’s replacement.
He added, “Brady is obviously a minority owner, but he’s going to give validity and receipts to that organization, and I think Mark Davis will listen to him. So, then we have our Fox friend, Tom Brady, and you have Mike Vrabel; they are former teammates. I don’t know whether or not the Raiders are going to move on from Pierce.”
Vrabel and Brady played together for the New England Patriots, and the former is one of the best candidates available in the upcoming coaching cycle. The former Tennessee Titans head coach went 54-45 during his six seasons with the AFC South team.
In response to Schultz linking Vrabel with the Raiders job, Cowherd added that if he was in the 49-year-old’s place, he would not accept Las Vegas’ offer. The Fox Sports analyst also mentioned the Chicago Bears as another team from which Vrabel should not accept an offer.
There’s a chance the Cincinnati Bengals could part ways with Zac Taylor after this offseason, and if that happens, it will be the best available coaching situation in the league. Vrabel could work wonders with Joe Burrow, which is why Cowherd might want him to wait before accepting the opportunity to become the head coach of teams that are currently in a rebuilding phase.
Brady’s Input Will Be Beneficial for Raiders in Drafting a New QB
The Raiders could potentially end up with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s no secret that the AFC West franchise will draft a quarterback, and Brady’s input will be quite valuable for the team.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has been linked with the Raiders for a long time, and he is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks to get drafted next year. Either Las Vegas or New York looks like a potential destination for him.
Would Deion Sanders be ecstatic if the Raiders drafted his son, as having a person like Brady around the franchise will be beneficial for a young quarterback? With expectations that destinations could be selective in Shedeur’s draft process, this is a question that will be asked. However, there are still three weeks left in the season, and a lot could change regarding the draft order.
If the AFC West franchise is in a position to draft the Colorado quarterback, they are more likely to select him instead of Cam Ward or Jalen Milroe.