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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a singular objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's expanding American football to Saudi Arabia. He maintains a popular YouTube channel. He replicated 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 hardly a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the de facto decision-maker for the Raiders, currently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland 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 less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for most of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Decisions

To be fair to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's personnel choices, after becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last summer, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless franchise in the NFL.

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 oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base 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 Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a instability that has eliminated any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a team."

Brady made the key hires and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and drafting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid OC in the NFL. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous 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 disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive scheme, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for 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 glimmers of optimism. Myles Garrett, now just five sacks away from the league single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not too big for him. With a full week to prepare, he was effective, accepting what the defense gave him and showing flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season believing they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications 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 coming years. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

Where is the future direction? Will Carroll be back or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on other projects?

It will prove a struggle for the Raiders to improve – 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 stocked with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

The only thing more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will make decisions in the summer.

Tom Brady once excelled at football through intense dedication. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.