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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a unwavering mission: becoming the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in the UK. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's spreading American football to Saudi Arabia. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But overseeing a NFL team is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday 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' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been dysfunctional for most of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the league.

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

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through 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 turnover rate that has erased any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for the key hires and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and drafting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the foundation for that coach and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It's been a disaster. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and competitive. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive scheme, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps 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. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and a skilled defender at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, 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.

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players symbolize future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations recognize their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the coming years. 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 lack of action for two young blockers, despite the offensive line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. 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 Spytek or Smith? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, approves franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division stacked with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The 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 distinctive style. No plan.

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

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