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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into numerous endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his dog. Brady's retirement ventures appear either diverse or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto decision-maker for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before garbage-time action in the final period. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Series 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 minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the league table. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Organizational Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has cycled through coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," league reporter a prominent journalist said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing O-line. He lured Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and competitive. The current 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 aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not too big for him. With a full week to get ready, he was effective, taking what the opposition gave him and showing flashes of improvisation. 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' first-year players represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations recognize their position in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they failed to adjust midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be playing young players to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine receptions in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on the defensive side over young players in need of experience.

Unclear Direction

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 team operate when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on side quests?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference filled with perennial playoff contenders. At the same time, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are stocked with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No plan.

The only thing more problematic than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're bad. 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 ruthless focus. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.