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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has explored various pursuits. He works as a broadcaster for a major network. He's involved in development ventures in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, depending on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a casual commitment. Alongside his other roles, 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 Sunday after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before garbage-time plays in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any team this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit 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 watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Series of Questionable Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and all of them has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance and then hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being fired after one season 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 cycled through head coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Still, it's Brady's influence that are evident throughout this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a team."

Brady made the key hires and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he signed off on handing a unreliable offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and competitive. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook 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 facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, accepting what the opposition gave him and showing glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out young players to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has apparently already been tension between the coaches and the front office regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the offensive line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on the defensive side over young players in need of experience.

Unclear Future

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on other projects?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No plan.

The only thing more problematic than being bad in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know 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 an hour of it.