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Tom Brady dedicated 23 NFL seasons to a singular objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Now, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's expanding American football to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's retirement ventures appear either diverse or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a casual commitment. Alongside his other roles, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a 24-10 defeat 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. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the season. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's football decisions, becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in 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 appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was expected to restore the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Dysfunction

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, 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 said 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 franchise."

Brady made the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a draft selection for Smith and drafting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing O-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 flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a full week to prepare, he was solid, taking what the defense gave him and displaying flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players symbolize promise. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations recognize their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a couple of moves away from respectability. Despite the clear indications to the contrary, they failed to adjust midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out young players 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 young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Direction

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then disappears on side quests?

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 upcoming selections. 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 recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the summer.

Tom Brady once mastered football through intense dedication. The Raiders could benefit from more than an hour of it.