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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored various endeavors. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's involved in construction projects in the UK. He has endorsed digital assets. He's spreading the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those moves have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a instability that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and drafting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the league. And he approved entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were scrappy and resilient. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive scheme, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has submarined any hopes for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the end of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was solid, accepting what the defense gave him and displaying flashes 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. Good organizations recognize their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season thinking they were a few adjustments away from respectability. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out young players to find out what they have for the coming years. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of experience.

Uncertain Future

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on side quests?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other rebuilders have paths. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

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

Tom Brady once excelled at football through ruthless focus. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.