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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering objective: becoming the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for a major network. He's involved in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's expanding American football to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's retirement ventures appear either diverse or aimless, based on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. Alongside his other roles, Brady functions as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless action in the final period. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any team this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was working in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Questionable Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's personnel choices, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last summer, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a long slog back up the league table. He was expected to restore the team to competitiveness and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any clear strategic direction. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to act as general manager. He greenlit a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and drafting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Results

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. 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 run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the end of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak 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 formidable defense. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at running back and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was solid, taking what the defense gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Future

Where is the future direction? Will Carroll be back or the GM or Smith? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have paths. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

The single factor more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

Tom Brady once excelled at football through intense dedication. The Raiders could benefit from more than limited attention of it.