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Tom Brady dedicated 23 NFL seasons to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that goal. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's involved in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding American football 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 unfocused, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But managing a NFL team is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated 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 sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any team this season. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's personnel choices, becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last summer, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a rate 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 coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints 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 integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He greenlit a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and drafting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous 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 outdated defensive scheme, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' offensive line has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless 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 sacks away from the NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the stage was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, taking what the defense gave him and showing glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players symbolize future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises understand their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a couple of moves away from respectability. In spite of the clear indications to the contrary, they failed to adjust midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be playing 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 disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers two young talents have totaled nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of reps.

Unclear Future

Where is the future direction? Will Carroll be back or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference filled with perennial playoff contenders. At the same time, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are stocked with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The single factor more problematic than being bad in the NFL is not knowing you're bad. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the summer.

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