UFC president Dana White stated he helped dealer a deal for quarterback Tom Brady to play for the Las Vegas Raiders when Brady was a free agent quarterback in 2020, however then-Raiders coach Jon Gruden nullified the deal on the final minute.
White was satisfied to inform the story by Rob Gronkowski in the course of the UFC with the Gronks broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+ for UFC 278 on Saturday night time.
“I labored to place that deal collectively for Brady and Gronk to come back to the Raiders,” White stated. “It was virtually a executed deal. And on the final minute, Gruden blew the deal up and stated that he did not need him and all hell broke free, man. It was loopy.
“And Brady was already taking a look at homes. It wasn’t stated but that Gronk was going to be coming. So Las Vegas would have had Brady and Gronk the yr that the Bucs received the Tremendous Bowl besides Gruden blew the deal up.”
White added that “there’s a lot story that goes with this behind the scenes.”
Gruden resigned from the Raiders in October 2021. ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported in 2020 — when Brady was a free agent — that the Raiders deliberate to pursue Brady if he reached free company. He did, however he in the end signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the place he received the Tremendous Bowl that season.
White additionally stated Gronkowski may have come to the Raiders. Gronkowski, nevertheless, was beneath contract with the New England Patriots on the time. The Patriots ultimately traded Gronkowski to Tampa Bay that April.
Gronkowski, who requested White the preliminary query, did say he was glad issues labored out the way in which they did.
“I am glad it didn’t undergo,” Gronkowski stated on the present. “All of it labored out for the perfect, man. I am glad we went to Tampa, man. It simply labored out. I like that place.”
Messages despatched to Brady’s agent, Don Yee, in addition to Raiders representatives weren’t instantly returned Saturday night time.
The Buccaneers are actually of their third season with Brady as their quarterback — though he has not been in coaching camp this preseason. Las Vegas continues to have Derek Carr as its quarterback — Carr accomplished 67.3% of his passes for 4,103 yards, 27 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 2020 and 68.4% of his passes for 4,804 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2021.
White stated he was not planning on telling that story till Gronkowski requested him about it.
ESPN workers author Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.
