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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a singular mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in the UK. He has promoted digital assets. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a professional franchise is hardly a casual commitment. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady functions as the de facto decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 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 season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Series of Questionable Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless team in the league.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to manage a protracted process back up the league table. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base 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 is not all Brady's fault, naturally. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has cycled through coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. 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. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for 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 GM. He greenlit a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a third-round pick for Smith and selecting 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 offensive coordinator in the league. And he approved handing a unreliable blocking unit – the bedrock for that coach and running back – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a complete failure. Last season'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 old-fashioned defensive philosophy, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the snaps to the conclusion 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 dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was effective, taking what the defense gave him and displaying flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize promise. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing young players to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the management 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 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Uncertain Direction

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

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have paths. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The single factor more dangerous than being bad 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 mastered football through intense dedication. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.