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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a singular objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into numerous endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in the UK. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. Alongside his other roles, Brady functions as the unofficial decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the least successful team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for the majority of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's personnel choices, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and each one has proven unsuccessful. Those moves 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, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to manage a long slog back up the league table. 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.

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't all Brady's fault, of course. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the New York Jets blush. 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. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero commented last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to act as GM. He approved a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he approved handing a unreliable offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a disaster. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the snaps to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the stage was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, accepting what the opposition gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Vision

Sanders and the rest 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 ecosystem: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season thinking they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. In spite of the clear indications otherwise, they failed to adjust midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have combined for nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of experience.

Uncertain Future

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference stacked with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

The only thing more problematic than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on 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 use more than limited attention of it.