Tom Brady nearly played for the Raiders.
At least, that's how Las Vegas owner Mark Davis tells the story in a new interview published on the Raiders' official website.
Brady owns a piece of the Raiders now, but he nearly played for them first.
“He was supposed to be here in 2020,” Davis said in the new interview. “That’s when our relationship started, was in 2020 when he was a free agent and we talked to him about coming here to play quarterback. Obviously, it was a tough decision, he was close to coming here, but the head coach and general manager decided they wanted to go in a different direction. So, we didn’t sign him, but as I got to know him through that process, I let his agent know that when he was done playing, I would like him to be a part of our organization.”
MORE: Derrick Henry reveals his retirement plans
That would've been quite the twist to NFL history, but Davis alludes to head coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock not wanting Brady.
Brady left the Patriots after the 2019 season. He had won six Super Bowls in New England, and he was heading into his age-43 season.
There were some NFL teams with set quarterback situations, but it's safe to say a lot of organizations at least considered the idea of pursuing Brady.
He eventually chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first season there, Brady and the Bucs won the Super Bowl, his seventh and final ring.
MORE: Josh Allen paints a beautiful picture of a Super Bowl parade in Buffalo
Brady went on to play two more seasons with the Buccaneers, lasting through his age-45 campaign, before retiring following the 2022 season.
In that 2020 season when the Bucs won the title, the Raiders went 8-8. Derek Carr had a solid season as the starting quarterback.
But if Brady had been there? That would've been quite the story.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- This Ravens rookie was a star in his college rocket club
- This Shedeur Sanders and Arch Manning comparison makes a lot of sense
- Saints just signed their next Taysom Hill
- Johnny Manziel reveals crazy NSFW hatred for Cleveland Browns
- Devin Hester Jr. is great at returns, but he isn't the Bears' Hall of Famer's son
- Why Jets chose QB Justin Fields over 'celebrity' Aaron Rodgers