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Tom Brady committed 23 NFL seasons to a singular mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in league history. He achieved that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding American football to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But managing a NFL team is hardly a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the de facto decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell 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 QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense 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 team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for the majority of the season. Any way you slice 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 Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Questionable Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the most unwatchable and aimless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance and then hand them off with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not all Brady's fault, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has cycled through head coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a instability that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider a prominent journalist commented last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a franchise."

Brady made the key hires and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his former teammate and co-worker in Tampa, to act as GM. He approved a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a unreliable offensive line – the foundation for that coach and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for Ashton Jeanty and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the end of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. Myles Garrett, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the league all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was effective, accepting what the defense gave him and displaying flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. In spite of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they failed to adjust during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the limited playing time for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have totaled nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on the defensive side over young players in need of reps.

Unclear Future

Where is the future direction? Will Carroll be back or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise function when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on side quests?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Tennessee and New York have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No franchise QB. No identity. No plan.

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

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