The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a new era—one not defined by flash or slogans, but by a foundational commitment to merit. This offseason, the organization has made it clear: titles and reputations mean nothing without results. And that message is coming straight from the top.
After a disappointing 4–13 season, Raiders majority owner Mark Davis handed minority owner Tom Brady greater influence in shaping the team’s future. The result? A calculated reboot, led by the hiring of legendary head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, both handpicked with a purpose: to instill a merit-based culture that prioritizes effort, accountability, and competition.
Brady, whose own rise from sixth-round draft pick to seven-time Super Bowl champion embodies the very spirit of earning it, is all-in on this philosophy. In a recent interview, he praised the direction the Raiders are heading—and made it clear that culture is everything.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Biggest Offseason Moves Reflect Merit-Based Approach
“Everything’s earned through hard work, communication, and daily habits that create advantages on the field,” Brady told DJ Siddiqi of RG.org. “It’s a meritocracy. That’s how pro sports should be.”
Pete Carroll shares that belief. Known for building competitive, energetic environments during his tenure in Seattle, Carroll is already injecting that same spirit into the Raiders’ offseason. His message is simple: the best players will play. There are no promises. No politics. No favorites. Just performance.
One of the cornerstones of that new foundation is quarterback Geno Smith. Acquired in a trade from Seattle, Smith reunites with Carroll after a breakout 2022 season in which he led the league in completion percentage and shattered multiple franchise records. But his value goes beyond numbers—Smith is the embodiment of perseverance, having spent years as a backup before seizing his opportunity.
“Getting Geno was a really important part of this puzzle,” Carroll said at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. “He’s serious, he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He leads by example. That’s what we want in our building.”
Carroll and GM John Spytek are already in talks to extend Smith’s contract, further committing to a player who has earned every opportunity he’s received. “You want a quarterback that the head coach believes in,” Spytek said. “And we got that guy.”
Beyond Smith, the Raiders doubled down on physicality and effort with the selection of Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Boise State running back gives Las Vegas a new identity on offense after finishing last in rushing yards a season ago. The move fits the theme: production over perception.
Defensively, the team locked in cornerstone pass rusher Maxx Crosby with a massive contract extension. Crosby, a former mid-round pick who has become one of the league’s most relentless defenders, perfectly symbolizes the standard Carroll and Brady want to set.
And make no mistake—Brady’s role goes far beyond ceremonial ownership. He’s been involved in the coaching search, the quarterback decision, and the larger cultural vision. “He knows what it takes to reach the top,” a team source said. “And he knows it doesn’t happen without competition and accountability.”
Las Vegas has long been a franchise searching for an identity. This offseason, they may have finally found one. No longer chasing short-term fixes or big names for headlines, the Raiders are building something more sustainable: a locker room where playing time isn’t given—it’s earned.
As the team prepares to open the 2025 season against Brady’s former team, the New England Patriots, the goal is clear. The Raiders aren’t promising instant success. But they are promising a team built the right way. A team that competes. A team where no one—veteran or rookie—is above the standard.
The meritocracy has begun.