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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular objective: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's engaged in development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are understandable. But overseeing a NFL team is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the NFL.

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 embarrassed by a struggling team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged less than three yards per play before garbage-time action in the final period. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for the majority of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, becoming a minority owner of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a protracted process back up the standings. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has cycled through head coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," NFL Insider a prominent journalist commented last summer. "He's been deeply engaged," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the key hires and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He hired John Spytek, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He greenlit a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a draft selection for Smith and drafting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning OC in the league. And he approved entrusting a unreliable offensive line – the foundation for that coach and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any hopes for their rookie and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the end 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 quarterback takedowns away from the league single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and a skilled defender at LB. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Admittedly, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not too big for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was effective, accepting what the opposition gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season thinking they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out young players to find out what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen real playing time. There has apparently already been tension between the coaching staff and the management regarding the limited playing time for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have totaled nine receptions 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 experience.

Unclear Direction

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves franchise-altering moves, and then vanishes on other projects?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference stacked with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No quarterback. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being bad 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 use more than limited attention of it.