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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He serves as a commentator for a major network. He's engaged in development ventures in the UK. He has endorsed digital assets. He's spreading American football to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But managing a professional franchise is not a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the de facto decision-maker for the Raiders, presently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before garbage-time action in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance 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 reboot.

Franchise Dysfunction

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a instability that has eliminated 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 Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as GM. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and drafting a RB No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved handing a unreliable offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a complete failure. 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 installed an outdated defensive philosophy, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for 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. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at RB and a skilled defender at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution 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 too big for him. With a full week to prepare, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and displaying flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they failed to adjust midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing young players to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaches and the management regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out grizzled vets on the defensive side over young players in need of experience.

Unclear Direction

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division stacked with perennial playoff contenders. At the same time, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No franchise QB. No identity. No plan.

The single factor 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 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 limited attention of it.