Professor Pete Carroll brings 7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as a guest speaker to his USC lecture

Tom Brady is a minority owner at the Las Vegas Raiders, where Pete Carroll was appointed as a head coach in the offseason

Professor Pete Carroll brings 7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as a guest speaker to his USC lecture

Pete Carroll, Tom Brady (Images via MassLive/Yahoo/Instagram)

Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady made a surprise virtual appearance during Pete Carroll’s USC class on April 17. The lecture is part of Carroll’s course, The Game of Life, offered during the spring semester. Brady joined the session via Zoom, much to the excitement of students enrolled in the highly selective program.

Carroll, currently head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, has been teaching the course to a small group of students. It is not easy to enter his course, and it has a stringent admission criterion. The admission requires a written application detailing what defines each applicant as a competitor. 

As a known figure in the NFL with one Super Bowl as a coach, Carroll often invites athletes and professionals from his wide network to enrich the student learning experience. His latest guest brought the classroom to life with insights from an unparalleled football career.

Brady’s presence also carries symbolic weight, as he is now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. At 47, the seven-time Super Bowl champion transitioned from player to executive, bringing a new perspective to his conversations. 

“I’m here, baby,” Brady said jokingly, acknowledging his new role as Carroll’s “boss” with a smile. 

The class also featured USC basketball player JuJu Watkins, who engaged Brady in a conversation about injury recovery. “What was your journey with your injury?” she asked, referring to his past ACL tear. Brady responded by highlighting the guidance he received from Alex Guerrero, his longtime trainer and wellness advisor.

The class, known for its candid discussions and mentorship-driven format, continues to receive high praise from participants. Students described Carroll’s teaching style as deeply personal, yet universally impactful. “

“He just somehow can find a way to connect with every single one of us,” said Mia Triolo, a communications major and athlete.

Tom Brady’s Broader Role with the Las Vegas Raiders signals strategic intent

Tom Brady’s involvement with Pete Carroll’s USC class reflected a larger shift in his post-playing career focus. The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback now holds a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tom Brady
Tom Brady (Image via Bleacher Report)

He has some significant interest in Birmingham City, where he’s a minority owner as well as the chairman of a new advisory board. He also acquired a similar stake in Birmingham Phoenix, which plays in the Hundred, a new form of cricket. Furthermore, Tom Brady is also associated with the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA and his own team, “Team Brady,” in electric boat racing E series. Both Aces and Team Brady have won their respective events.

As a former NFL player and a legend, his association with the Raiders stands out for obvious reasons. Furthermore, Mike Florio suggested that this association is only going to become bigger in the future.

“Tom Brady is ultra-competitive and he always wants to win and he’s always ambitious, I think one of these days, Tom Brady is going to be the majority owner of the Raiders,” Mike Florio said.  

In a short span, he has made it evident that he has a growing influence on the organization’s recent strategic decisions. This included key front-office appointments this offseason.

A major move came with the hiring of John Spytek as general manager, reuniting Brady with a trusted Buccaneers colleague. This appointment marks a calculated step toward stability and leadership renewal within the franchise. The Raiders, struggling after an underwhelming 2024 season, appear to be undergoing a full rebuild.

The Raiders’ offseason has already seen significant changes, with Pete Carroll now leading as head coach. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith has joined the roster. Meanwhile, left tackle Kolton Miller’s absence from voluntary workouts underscores ongoing internal negotiations. With Miller being a cornerstone player, Brady’s perspective may influence how these contract discussions unfold.