Were Tom Brady And Rob Gronkowski Almost Raiders? That’s What Dana White Suggests
Aug 22, 2022, 8:43 AM
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Rob Gronkowski #87 and Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrate winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
UFC 278 had two bombshells by the time the final bell rang Saturday night.
Leon Edwards became the new UFC welterweight champion after knocking out Kamaru Usman. The second? News that Tom Brady was almost traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
During the inaugural “Gronkcast” hosted by Rob Gronkowski, similar to the “ManningCast” ESPN airs during Monday Night Football, UFC president Dana White told a story of how one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time was almost a member of the Raider Nation.
“I worked to put that deal together for Brady and Gronk to come to the Raiders,” White said. “And it was almost a one deal. And at the last minute, Gruden blew the deal up and said that he didn’t want [Brady]. And all hell broke loose, man. It was crazy and Brady was already looking at houses, and it wasn’t being said yet that Gronk was coming. So Las Vegas would have have Brady and Gronk the year that the Bucs won the Super Bowl, except Gruden blew the deal up.”
Dana White says Brady and Gronk ➡️ Raiders "was almost a done deal." 😳 #UFC278 pic.twitter.com/buWEXxi5Ho
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 21, 2022
Ultimately, the deal didn’t happen. Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years in New England. The Patriots then traded Gronk to Tampa where the duo would win one more Super Bowl before Gronkowski announced his retirement earlier this year.
“It all worked out for the best, man,” Gronkowski said during the telecast.” I’m glad we went to Tampa, man. It just worked out. I love that place.”
