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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or aimless, depending on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a struggling team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless action in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been dysfunctional for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's football decisions, becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last summer, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has cycled through 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 instability that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last summer. "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 placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a draft selection for Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, 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 running back – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the plays to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was pronounced. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five sacks away from the league single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was effective, accepting what the defense gave him and showing glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations understand their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season thinking they were a couple of moves away from respectability. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, 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 significant action. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the management regarding the limited playing time for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on the defensive side over young players in need of experience.

Unclear Future

Where is the path forward? Will Carroll be back or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It's going to be a challenge 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 loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No franchise QB. No identity. No plan.

The single factor more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will make decisions in the offseason.

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