27 August 2023 , 15:14
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Prospective Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady shared a motivational message with the team's quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo before their preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys.
Brady, 46, was at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to see the Raiders in their final preseason game of the summer. The seven-time Super Bowl champion will join the Vegas ownership group, pending NFL approval, after reaching an agreement with the controlling owner and managing general partner Mark Davis to take a stake.
While it is a new franchise to Brady - after only previously playing for the New England Patriots and more recently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Garoppolo is one familiar face. 'Jimmy G' spent three seasons behind Brady in the depth chart at Foxborough before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
Garoppolo is one of several former Pats personnel, including former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, already within the Raiders organisation. And all these years on, Brady is still sharing words of encouragement with his former backup.
Footage from before the game shared by the NFL on social media shows the future Hall of Famer hanging around in the bowels of AT&T Stadium as Garoppolo walked out to the field alongside teammates Aidan O'Connell, Brian Hoyer and Chase Garbers. As they walk from the locker room through some double doors, Brady is lingering in the doorway.
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After engaging with rookie quarterback O'Connell, he says as the group are walking away: "Go ruin their night," referring to the Raiders' opponents, the Cowboys. Before the game, Dallas also shared videos on social media showing Brady conversing with some of their personnel pitchside.
A short clip showed him shaking hands and making Trevon Diggs laugh while in conversation with the cornerback. Another shows him exchanging pleasantries with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, head coach Mike McCarthy and owner-cum-president-cum-general manager Jerry Jones.
Despite his words beforehand, the Raiders did not ruin Dallas' night. After going 7-0 down in the first quarter, they never recovered, and the Cowboys ultimately grew that advantage to emerge with a 31-16 win. Despite the result, Brady does seem to be enjoying life away from the field but remaining engaged in the sport.
He spoke to the Associated Press earlier this summer to explain the reasoning behind investing in the Raiders. "I grew up in the Bay Area," Brady said. "My favourite team was the 49ers. The team across the bay was the Raiders.
Brady continued: "And then the opportunity came about to become a minority owner in the Raiders; it was a dream come true for me. I’ll be playing a very passive role.
"This is something that I’m interested in doing for the rest of my life. This is not something that I’m into it for a year or two years. But if I’m looking over the course of my life, to have the opportunity to be involved in the NFL is a dream come true.