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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He serves as a commentator for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in the UK. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading the NFL to the Middle East. He maintains a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. 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 hardly a casual commitment. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a struggling team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before garbage-time plays in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for the majority of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Series of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last offseason, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. 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 coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a instability that has erased any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including dealing a draft selection for Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He lured Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he signed off on handing a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coach and running back – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It's been a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and competitive. This year's 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 undermined any hopes for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the snaps to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five sacks away from the NFL single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – Quinshon Judkins at running back 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 immediate future.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a full week to get ready, he was effective, taking what the opposition gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. In spite of the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the management regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine catches in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of experience.

Uncertain Future

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves major organizational decisions, and then disappears on other projects?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a conference filled with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Tennessee and New York have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being bad in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

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