Tom Brady’s shock departure leaves a mixed legacy at Birmingham City, but was his impact more positive than negative?
Tom Brady has walked away from Birmingham City after spending three years as a minority owner of the Championship club.
Birmingham City confirmed the news in a brief statement published on 9 November on social media, thanking the NFL legend for his “involvement and unwavering support” of the club.
Brady joined Birmingham City as minority owner in August 2023, acquiring just over a 3% stake a month after US investment firm Knighthead Capital Management completed a takeover of the club.
He held B shares, which meant he had no voting rights, though he served as Chairman of the Advisory Board and worked alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness and recovery programmes.
The club hasn’t given a reason for Brady’s departure or explained what has happened to his shareholdings.
“It was truly amazing to have someone with Tom’s experience and passion associated with the club, and the club looks forward to continuing to build on that foundation from the training ground to the Birmingham community,” the statement continued.
Was Brady worth it?
His exit appears to have come out of the blue, with the club currently at the top of the Championship after 15 games.
Given the surprise announcement, many supporters have started to debate whether the seven-time Super Bowl winner served any purpose or if his appointment was merely the club jumping on a trend of celebrity shareholders following the success of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds at AFC Wrexham.
Those who view it as a pointless exercise note his lack of voting authority and the relegation to League One after the controversial decision to hire Wayne Rooney, an appointment he was reportedly aligned with.
Critics also note that the club is still in the same league it was in when he joined, suggesting minimal improvements on the pitch.
However, the majority of Brady’s impact came off the pitch, which may not be a surprise given his limited knowledge of football, something that was evident in the club’s Amazon documentary.
In the 2023/24 season, the club’s first under the new ownership, commercial income almost doubled from £7m ($9.38m) to £13.8m, setting a new club record. Overall revenue also increased by 50% to £29.6m, according to the club’s accounts.
The club has since continued to improve its commercial profile, securing partnerships with major brands including Nike and Delta Air Lines. Brady’s global recognition helped draw attention to Birmingham, and he was credited with helping get deals such as these two over the line.
His involvement also featured prominently in the five-part Amazon Prime Video documentary Built in Birmingham: Brady & The Blues, which followed the club through the 2024/25 season.
Birmingham City has also garnered more attention over the pond, as seen during the club’s meeting with Wrexham in January 2025.
Dubbed the ‘Hollywood Derby’ because of the high-profile ownership on both sides, the League One fixture was broadcast nationally by CBS in the US, and immersive viewing events at Cosm venues in Los Angeles and Dallas attracted almost 3,000 fans.
Life goes on
Brady’s departure from Birmingham doesn’t mean an end to his involvement in sports ownership, with the former American football star still holding minority stakes in the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Birmingham City are also still working on huge projects of their own, as Knighthead progresses with plans for a new stadium, training facilities and a sports and entertainment development.
