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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in construction projects 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 retirement ventures appear either eclectic or unfocused, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a NFL team is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the final period. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for most of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Dubious Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless franchise in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group 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 hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a instability that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance 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 former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He greenlit a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved handing a unreliable offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. 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 run game. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league all-time mark, 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 Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and displaying glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players symbolize promise. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing young players to discover what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has apparently already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

What is the path forward? Will Carroll be back or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a conference stacked 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 nothing. No core. No franchise QB. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will make decisions in the offseason.

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