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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering mission: becoming the greatest quarterback in league history. He accomplished that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But managing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a struggling team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless action in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any team this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays 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 latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the league.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to oversee a protracted process back up the league table. He was expected to restore the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This isn't all Brady's fault, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a instability that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed John Spytek, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for 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 NFL. And he signed off on handing a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coach and running back – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and competitive. The current Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has installed an outdated defensive philosophy, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was pronounced. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and displaying glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Good organizations understand their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the clear indications to the contrary, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out young players to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two first-year players 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 rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Future

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division filled with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No franchise QB. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the summer.

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