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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored various pursuits. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in development ventures in the UK. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading the NFL to the Middle East. He maintains a popular YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Side projects are one thing. But managing a NFL team is hardly a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto decision-maker for the Raiders, currently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless action in the final period. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for most of the season. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Decisions

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to oversee a long slog back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Organizational Dysfunction

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a instability that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning OC in the league. And he signed off on handing a unreliable offensive line – the foundation for that coach and running back – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It's been a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and competitive. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the plays to the end of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Myles Garrett, now just five sacks away from the NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not too big for him. With a full week to get ready, he was effective, taking what the defense gave him and displaying glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out grizzled vets on the defensive side over young players in need of experience.

Unclear Direction

What is the future direction? Will Carroll be back or the GM or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, approves major organizational decisions, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division stacked with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The New York Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No franchise QB. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

Tom Brady once mastered football through ruthless focus. The Raiders could use more than an hour of it.