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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a singular objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He accomplished that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in development ventures in the UK. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's expanding the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or aimless, depending on your viewpoint.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady functions as the unofficial football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas allowed big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for most of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

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 organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the league table. He was expected to restore the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't all Brady's fault, 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 coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a instability 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," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a third-round pick for Smith and drafting 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 OC in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and competitive. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive scheme, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any hopes for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. 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. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming 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 Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Good organizations recognize their situation in the ecosystem: 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 respectability. In spite of the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. First-year pass catchers two young talents have totaled nine receptions in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on the defensive side over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Direction

Where is the path forward? Will Carroll be back or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on side quests?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The New York Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No franchise QB. No identity. No plan.

The only thing more dangerous than being bad in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, 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.