Tom Brady leaves Birmingham City after three-year association

Tom Brady has ended his involvement with Birmingham City, bringing his three-year association with the Championship club to a close. BBC Sport reported the departure on Monday, with Birmingham sitting top of England's second tier on goal difference. The former NFL quarterback joined as a minority owner in August 2023.

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Birmingham thanked Brady for his backing during that period and acknowledged the experience and enthusiasm he had brought to the club. In a statement also reported by Birmingham Live, the club said it intended to build on that work across its football operations and local community. The statement did not explain his departure.

Brady's arrival followed a partnership with Birmingham's owners, Knighthead Capital Management. His position extended beyond an investment: he became chairman of an advisory board. Boston.com's reporting of the club's original announcement outlined responsibilities alongside the sports science department, including advice on nutrition, player wellbeing and recovery. He was also expected to assist the board and management with international marketing and potential commercial partnerships.

His early involvement included a visit to St Andrew's in August 2023 for a Championship match against Leeds United. The Associated Press reported at the time that Brady met supporters at a nearby pub and spoke to the players before Birmingham won 1-0. Then-manager John Eustace said Brady had offered the squad advice ahead of the game.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner had retired from playing in February 2023, after 23 NFL seasons. Six of his championship victories came with the New England Patriots and the other with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also won the NFL's most valuable player award three times before moving into a range of post-playing roles.

BBC Sport noted that Brady's other commitments include ownership interests in the Las Vegas Raiders and the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, alongside his role as a lead NFL analyst for Fox Sports. Birmingham, meanwhile, have collected 29 points from their opening 15 Championship games, leaving them at the head of the table as his involvement ends.