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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored various pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in development ventures in the UK. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's expanding the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He maintains a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's post-career ventures appear either diverse or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the de facto football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the final period. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense 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 primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season leading the team's personnel choices, becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless franchise in the league.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the league table. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Turmoil

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head 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 evident throughout this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady made the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as GM. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Results

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and competitive. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive scheme, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed 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 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 NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the stage was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and displaying glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be playing young players to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has apparently 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. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer participates sporadically, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division filled with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being bad 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 mastered football through intense dedication. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.