Mike Florio: Tom Brady must go all in or Raiders won't improve
Tom Brady will not make the Las Vegas Raiders materially better while he splits time between minority ownership and his Fox broadcasting role, NBC host Mike Florio argues—unless Brady makes one major decision and commits full time like Matt Ryan did in Atlanta. A rival team source even told Florio they prefer Brady stay distracted.
Florio revived the debate on PFT Live Friday, questioning whether a seven-time Super Bowl champion can reshape a struggling franchise without becoming deeply committed to day-to-day football operations. Brady joined the Raiders ownership group in 2023 and has remained involved in football matters despite not serving as a traditional full-time executive.
Key Takeaways
- Florio says Brady must choose the Raiders over outside commitments to be effective.
- A rival team told Florio they worry more about Matt Ryan in Atlanta than Brady's split role.
- Reports link Brady to Chip Kelly's hiring and Klint Kubiak's head-coaching appointment.
- Florio wants No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza to play immediately, not sit a full season.
- Conflict-of-interest rules limit Brady's facility access while he broadcasts for Fox.
Why does Mike Florio say Tom Brady won't improve the Raiders?
On Friday's PFT Live, Florio said an opposing team representative made a tongue-in-cheek request: stop talking about Brady's Raiders involvement. The reason, Florio relayed, was blunt: "He's not going to make them any better, as long as he's doing all this other sh*t."
The representative argued Brady only thinks he can turn Las Vegas around while juggling broadcasting and ownership duties. Florio's broader point is not that Brady lacks influence—reports suggest the opposite—but that influence without full immersion leaves the franchise in an awkward middle ground.
How does Matt Ryan's Atlanta move compare to Brady's role?
Florio said the rival source contrasted Brady with former quarterback Matt Ryan, who retired into broadcasting and relocated fully to Atlanta. "I'm more worried about Matt Ryan than I am Tom Brady," Florio was told, "because Matt Ryan loaded up the truck and moved to Atlanta. He's there. He didn't try to do both jobs. He's all in, all the time."
That comparison frames Florio's central challenge: if Brady wants to drive the Raiders' next chapter, he may need to go all in the way Ryan did—not split attention across Fox game days and remote football operations. For more on how high-profile figures navigate dual careers, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage hub.
What decisions has Brady already influenced in Las Vegas?
Florio and other reports tie Brady to several major moves. Chip Kelly became offensive coordinator after a relationship with Brady dating to at least 2011, when the Patriots consulted Kelly. The pair reportedly worked together preparing for a 2025 Week 2 Chargers matchup; an NFL social post about their close collaboration was quickly deleted.
Separately, Florio wrote that a Seahawks source suggested the Raiders would not have hired Klint Kubiak as head coach without Brady's Fox access during Seattle's playoff run—giving Las Vegas evaluation time no rival suitor could match. Brady is reportedly the de facto boss on football matters despite NFL anti-conflict rules restricting facility access for owner-analysts.
Could sitting Fernando Mendoza reflect Brady's own rookie path?
Florio also criticized the idea of keeping Mendoza, the first overall pick, on the sideline for an extended period. "I don't like the idea of the number one overall pick in the draft not playing," he said, adding Las Vegas needs a spark and a return on its investment.
Florio questioned whether that approach reflects Brady's preference because he did not play as a rookie. "Just because it works specifically for him, doesn't mean it's the right way in today's NFL," Florio argued. Full analysis of Florio's remarks is available via MARCA.