Tom Brady played a significant part in the Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to bring Geno Smith to the team, reuniting him with former head coach Pete Carroll. The Raiders consulted Brady extensively during their search for a new starting quarterback, ultimately favoring Smith’s experience and recent performance over Sam Darnold.
Despite repeated statements by Brady and Raiders personnel insisting that he would have no role in personnel decisions, Carroll later confirmed that Brady’s input was indeed influential. This revelation raised questions about the transparency of Brady’s involvement given his status as a minority owner of the franchise.
Why Geno Smith Was Preferred Over Sam Darnold
Hall of Famer Chris Carter supported the decision, highlighting Smith’s proven success in Carroll’s style of offense compared to Darnold. Carter pointed out that the Raiders aim to focus on running the football, a system that fits Smith’s strengths better than Darnold’s typical passing-oriented play during his time with the Vikings.
Geno Smith has a more proven track record in the kind of system that Pete Carroll is going to run… The Raiders, physically, want to run the football. The Vikings, for the past several years, have been a passing football team. So, yes, Tom Brady had something to do with it. Ask Tom about everything, he’s the greatest quarterback, the greatest winner we’ve ever seen… He should be a part of that… He should have an evaluation on the quarterback.
—Chris Carter, Hall of Famer
Smith’s fit in Carroll’s system appears promising, especially considering the Seahawks’ 2024 ranking with 593 pass attempts, seventh most in the NFL. While Darnold’s skills may not have earned Brady’s endorsement, Seattle’s approach gave him a chance to demonstrate his potential despite skepticism.
Ongoing Debate Over Brady’s Influence on the Raiders
Throughout the 2025 NFL Draft period, the Raiders consistently downplayed Brady’s role in choosing their quarterback, making it unclear how much sway he truly held. However, the franchise eventually moved away from portraying him as a minor participant, leaving fans and analysts debating the extent of his impact on crucial decisions.
The question of Brady’s influence remains unsettled, with only upcoming seasons able to reveal how much his guidance shapes the Raiders’ direction and Geno Smith’s success as their quarterback.
Sam Darnold’s Path Forward with the Seattle Seahawks
Although Darnold’s 2024 season showed signs of career revival, his uneven performance during the Wild Card round reinforced doubts about his consistency. Moving forward, Darnold faces the challenge of filling the void left by star receiver Justin Jefferson, while hoping to build a strong partnership with promising talent Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
Having secured a starting-level contract worth over $100 million, Darnold now carries the responsibility to justify this investment by proving he can be a reliable signal caller for Seattle as they prepare for the 2025 season.