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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a singular objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various endeavors. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's spreading the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a professional franchise is not a casual commitment. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were humiliated by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Collection of Questionable Decisions

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

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," 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 set the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the top-earning OC in the NFL. And he approved handing a flaky blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It's been 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 implemented an outdated defensive scheme, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, counting down the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league all-time mark, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – Quinshon Judkins at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was effective, accepting what the defense gave him and displaying glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class symbolize promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. In spite of the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out young players to find out what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the offensive line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine receptions in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Uncertain Future

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No plan.

The single factor more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will make decisions in the summer.

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