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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. 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 American football to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a struggling team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for most of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

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 franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a championship and a NCAA title, 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 solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the prospect of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Dysfunction

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a instability that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated 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 placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and drafting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He lured Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he approved handing a flaky blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a disaster. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were scrappy and competitive. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for 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. Myles Garrett, now just five sacks away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

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

Absence of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class represent future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their position 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 failed to adjust midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing young players to find out what they have for the coming years. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the management regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference filled with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are stocked with future draft picks. 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 single factor more dangerous than being bad in the NFL is not knowing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

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