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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He serves as a commentator for a major network. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's expanding the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his dog. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the least successful team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the final period. Their quarterback 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 campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Questionable Decisions

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, becoming a partial stakeholder of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last offseason, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless franchise in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was expected to restore the team to relevance and then hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh 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 version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero said last summer. "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 franchise."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning OC in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a unreliable blocking unit – the foundation for that coach and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Results

It's been a disaster. 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 implemented an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit 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, counting down the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast 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 all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – Quinshon Judkins at running back and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the stage was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was effective, taking what the opposition gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations understand their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the management regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on the defensive side over young players in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on other projects?

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 paths. The New York 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 identity. No plan.

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

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