Tom Brady Quietly Shapes Raiders QB Plans as Seahawks Bet on Sam Darnold for Stability

A recent report from The Athletic’s Mike Silver sheds light on former quarterback and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady’s involvement in shaping the team’s quarterback plans. Specifically, it notes that Brady did not support the idea of pursuing Sam Darnold as the next Raiders quarterback.

This aligns with earlier reports indicating Brady and general manager John Spytek had little enthusiasm for veteran options, including no interest whatsoever in Aaron Rodgers. At the same time, the coaching staff reportedly showed reluctance toward developing a rookie quarterback.

Seahawks and Raiders Take Diverging Paths in Quarterback Search and Decision Making

Interestingly, Geno Smith emerged as a compromise candidate for the Raiders, largely due to his relationship with head coach Pete Carroll. However, Smith ultimately landed in Seattle, while Darnold was chosen as the Seahawks’ next starter.

This sets up an intriguing contrast between two former AFC West rivals — the Raiders and the Seahawks, each making very different quarterback decisions. Whether Seattle made the right move with Darnold or the Raiders with Geno remains to be seen, but both teams approached their quarterback dilemmas with calculated caution.

Although Brady claims limited involvement in certain key decisions, his actions suggest otherwise. His apparent hands-on role in evaluating veteran quarterbacks contradicts his public statements, such as when he distanced himself from the Raiders’ choice to pass on Shedeur Sanders.

During a vague and hesitant interview response, Brady denied any direct role in that decision, raising questions about how involved he actually is behind the scenes.

Brady Maintains Strategic Distance While Influencing Raiders’ Decisions to Protect His Image

By selectively involving himself, Brady appears to be creating a strategic middle ground. He seems to have just enough influence to take credit if the Raiders’ choices succeed, yet enough distance to dodge accountability if things go south. This approach could serve him well from a public relations standpoint, especially as the Raiders continue to struggle with consistency and direction.

Ultimately, the conflicting signals between front-office decision-makers, coaching preferences, and Brady’s ambiguous level of involvement point to a larger issue within the Raiders’ leadership structure. While the team hopes to turn things around, the lack of clear alignment between stakeholders may hinder progress.

As for the Seahawks, their firm choice in Darnold suggests a more unified approach — a contrast that could shape both franchises’ fortunes in the coming seasons.