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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into numerous endeavors. 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 American football 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 perspective.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the unofficial decision-maker for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless action in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for the majority of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Collection of Questionable Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season leading the team's football decisions, 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 most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a protracted process back up the league table. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Turmoil

This is not all Brady's fault, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "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 team."

Brady was responsible for the key hires and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning OC in the NFL. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive scheme, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was expected 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 stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Myles Garrett, now just five sacks away from the league all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

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

Lack of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a few adjustments away from respectability. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has apparently already been tension 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 receptions in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on side quests?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a conference filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The New York Jets are stocked with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No plan.

The single factor more problematic than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will make decisions in the summer.

Tom Brady once mastered football through intense dedication. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.