Tom Brady’s purchase of minority stake in Raiders not yet finalized as speculation of NFL return lingers

Technically — and we do mean very technically — Tom Brady could return to the NFL this year.

That is because the former quarterback’s purchase of a minority stake in the Raiders has not been finalized, according to NFL Network, meaning that league bylaws would not yet preclude him from playing.

A vote could reportedly approve the purchase as soon as next month, but there are still some steps that need to be taken, involving financing and sharing information, opening the door to the process dragging on.

The idea of Brady, 46, returning is still mostly fantasy, due to the man himself stating he has no plans to come back.

“I’m certain I’m not playing again, so I’ve tried to make that clear, and I hate to continue to profess that, cause I’ve already told people that lots of times,” Brady said in a June video with Sports Illustrated.

“But I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at Fox next year. I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders and we’re in the process of that, along with the other different things that I’m a part of professionally and in my personal life, just spending as much time with my kids as I can and seeing them grow up and support the different things that they have going on, and that’s a very important job, and I take them all pretty seriously.”

It was first reported in May that Brady was in talks to purchase an ownership stake with the Raiders.

However, speculation surrounding Brady and the Jets ramped up within minutes of Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles on Monday night.

But The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the Jets would not be calling Brady and that the seven-time Super Bowl champion has told those close to him he’s done playing football.

Brady, who appeared at Gillette Stadium last Sunday to be honored by the Patriots, spoke about his career in the past tense and called himself “a Patriot for life.”

On the Jets’ side, they have been adamant about going ahead with Zach Wilson as their quarterback.

“I’m very confident in Zach,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday. “And I think he’s confident in himself, which is the most important thing. It was an important offseason for him.”

So, despite the technicality, don’t hold your breath.