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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Now, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He works as a broadcaster for a major network. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's spreading American football to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or unfocused, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to 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 get defeated; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for most of the season. However you analyze it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately 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 Collection of Dubious Decisions

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every significant move last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a Super Bowl and a college national championship, to manage a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to competitiveness and then hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This isn't all Brady's fault, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through 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 erased any coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist said last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the key hires and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to act as GM. He greenlit a team strategy 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 bottom-tier O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly 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 foundation for that coordinator and running back – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Outcomes

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and resilient. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for their rookie and the run game. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the conclusion of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at QB, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was facing 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 solid, taking what the defense gave him and displaying flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players represent future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises understand their situation in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season thinking they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they haven't pivoted during the season. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out rookies 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 coaching staff and the management regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the offensive line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers two young talents have totaled nine catches in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Future

What is the path forward? Will Carroll be back or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then disappears 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 reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No plan.

The only thing more problematic than being bad 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 offseason.

Tom Brady once mastered football through ruthless focus. The Raiders could use more than limited attention of it.