As the Las Vegas Raiders retooled their quarterback room this offseason, one name notably absent from serious consideration was former 1st round selection, Sam Darnold. Despite being regarded as the top free agent quarterback on the market, Darnold—coming off a strong 2024 campaign with the Vikings—was never truly in play for Vegas. A key reason? Tom Brady.
Tom Brady’s Influence Helped Steer Las Vegas Raiders Away from Sam Darnold, Toward Geno Smith
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, now a minority owner of the Raiders, has reportedly played an active role in key front office decisions since his ownership bid was approved. According to The Athletic’s Mike Silver, Brady was not in favor of pursuing Darnold, a stance that held significant weight within the organization.
“While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady… was not in favor of that approach,” Silver wrote.
Darnold eventually landed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, stepping into the starting role vacated by Geno Smith. The Raiders, meanwhile, pounced on Smith—who was seeking a new contract with Seattle—and acquired him in a trade before extending him on a two-year, $75 million pact.
Carroll Reunion and Short-Term Stability
The move reunited Smith with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, now the Raiders’ head coach. General manager John Spytek, alongside Brady and owner Mark Davis, helped finalize the decision. Carroll praised Smith’s familiarity with his system, and the organization now hopes that stability under center can spark an offense that ranked 29th in scoring last season.
Why Not Darnold?
Darnold’s strong finish with Minnesota, including a playoff berth, boosted his value. But Brady’s reported skepticism—likely rooted in Darnold’s inconsistency before 2024—may have stemmed from a belief that the former USC Trojans standout’s success was unsustainable.
Whether Vegas made the right call will become clear soon enough. With Darnold replacing Smith in Seattle, and Smith now leading the Raiders, the 2025 season will serve as a direct comparison between two quarterbacks—and the divergent paths their teams took to find them.