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Tom Brady dedicated 23 NFL seasons to a unwavering mission: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that goal. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's post-career ventures appear either eclectic or unfocused, based on your perspective.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Raiders, presently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for most of the season. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

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

This wasn't supposed 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 NCAA title, to oversee a long slog back up the league table. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being one-and-done 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 controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any clear strategic direction. Still, it's Brady's influence that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the key hires and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He hired a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as GM. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for Geno Smith and selecting a RB No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a unreliable blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Results

It's been a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and resilient. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive scheme, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five sacks away from the NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and a skilled defender at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, 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 showing 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 future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. In spite of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they failed to adjust during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out young players to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the management regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more dangerous than being bad in the NFL is not knowing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the summer.

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