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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He serves as a commentator for a major network. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding American football to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or unfocused, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a part-time job. Alongside his other roles, Brady functions as the de facto decision-maker for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a 24-10 defeat 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 plays in the final period. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. Any way you slice 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 Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last summer, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to oversee a protracted process back up the league table. He was expected to return the team to competitiveness and then hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being one-and-done 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 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 eliminated any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and drafting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on handing a unreliable blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a disaster. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. 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 dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – Quinshon Judkins at running back and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a full week to prepare, he was solid, taking what the defense gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Good organizations recognize their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a couple of moves away from respectability. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they failed to adjust 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 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 offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Unclear Direction

What is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, 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 quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

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 summer.

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