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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a singular objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He serves as a commentator for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's spreading American football to Saudi Arabia. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either diverse or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But overseeing a professional franchise is not a casual commitment. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless action in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this season. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least 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 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 franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and all of them has backfired. Those moves have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the league.

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 Super Bowl and a college national championship, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was expected to restore the team to competitiveness and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired John Spytek, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and drafting a RB No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning OC in the NFL. And he approved handing a unreliable blocking unit – the foundation for that coach and running back – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Results

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and resilient. 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 hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the plays to the end of the game.

The difference 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 all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not too big for him. With a full week to get ready, he was solid, accepting what the opposition gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start 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 recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out young players to find out 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 management regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the offensive line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine catches in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Uncertain Future

What is the path forward? 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 logs in occasionally, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears 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 paths. The Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No franchise QB. No identity. No strategic vision.

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