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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: becoming the greatest quarterback in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career ventures appear either diverse or aimless, depending on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady functions 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 Sunday after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were humiliated by a underperforming team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays 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 the defensive side, Las Vegas allowed 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 Collection of Dubious Choices

In fairness 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 accountable for every significant move last summer, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the league.

This wasn't expected 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 long slog back up the league table. He was expected to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Dysfunction

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any clear strategic direction. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady made the key hires and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a flaky offensive line – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Results

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and resilient. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the impressive rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was effective, taking what the defense gave him and displaying flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Good organizations understand their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season thinking they were a couple of moves away from respectability. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to discover 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. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine catches in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over young players in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on other projects?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No quarterback. No identity. No strategic vision.

The single factor more problematic than being bad 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 offseason.

Tom Brady once excelled at football through intense dedication. The Raiders could benefit from more than limited attention of it.