Tom Brady can never fly under the radar in and around football. His presence at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami on Monday was never going to go unnoticed. But not for the reason people might assume.
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Brady was spotted rocking Las Vegas Raiders gear for the first time since the preseason. It was a gray Raiders hoodie, subtly layered under a black jacket.
But wasn’t it odd sporting it at the Hard Rock Stadium, which was hosting the Indiana vs. Miami championship clash? Well, it was anything but accidental.
Tom Brady is rocking #Raiders gear in public for the first time since the NFL preseason as he watches potential 1st pick Fernando Mendoza try to win a natty ☠️
Making it a little more discreet this time with the jacket. pic.twitter.com/al0C3RUj7R
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) January 20, 2026
Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, had more than one reason to be in South Florida on Monday. First, it was because the national title game had become the center of Las Vegas’ offseason plans, starting with head coach interviews.
The Raiders are hoping to fill the void after moving on from Pete Carroll earlier this month. That’s why GM Jon Spytek invited multiple top candidates to meet the team’s decision-makers, including Brady and owner Mark Davis, in Miami.
It turned the championship weekend into a convenient gathering for some NFL business. Mike McDaniel, Joe Brady, and Klay Kubiak were among the candidates who showed up.
The Raiders have asked a few head coaching candidates to meet them in Miami at the national championship game, where Tom Brady is also expected to be.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 17, 2026
But coaching interviews were only half the story. The other reason Brady’s Raiders gear mattered was who was standing just a few yards away on the field: Fernando Mendoza.
The Indiana quarterback entered the game as the Heisman Trophy winner and the consensus projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And he left with another feather on his cap: a CFP National Champion title.
Considering the Raiders have the first pick this year, Brady and Mark Davis may have also been evaluating someone who could soon be the face of their franchise. And the quarterback didn’t disappoint. While the stat line was modest by his own lofty standards, 16-of-27 for 186 yards, the defining moment of the night belonged to him.
On a fourth-and-goal with Indiana clinging to a three-point lead, Mendoza put his body on the line, diving into the end zone for a rushing touchdown that ultimately sealed the Hoosiers’ first national championship. After the game, Mendoza summed up his heroics saying, “I would die for my guys on the field.”
That mentality is exactly what NFL scouts and quarterbacks like Brady have obsessed over for years. In fact, he has been known for taking paycuts to accommodate his team during his career. For Brady, fostering brotherhood and talent is the key to success. Mendoza, with his comments, shows how much he values and appreciates his teammates.
So, to sum it up, Brady wearing Raiders gear at the national championship doesn’t seem like a fashion choice or a casual flex. It was a signal that the Raiders are deep into their reset, searching for the right head coach and preparing to draft a franchise quarterback. And Miami just happened to be the place where both missions intersected.
