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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering mission: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in his post-playing career, Brady has explored various pursuits. He works as a broadcaster for Fox. He's involved in development ventures in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding the NFL to the Middle East. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or unfocused, based on your perspective.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a NFL team is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the de facto decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was tackled 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's personnel choices, becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to manage a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance and then transition them with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is facing the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Organizational Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through coaches and front-office heads at a rate 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 coherent long-term vision. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter a prominent journalist commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his opportunity to put his stamp on a franchise."

Brady made the crucial appointments and set the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for Smith and drafting a RB No 6 overall despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on handing a flaky offensive line – the foundation for that coach and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Outcomes

It's been a disaster. The previous year'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 their rookie and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for the snaps 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. Their star defender, now just five sacks away from the league all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

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

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' first-year players symbolize future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to discover what they have for the future. But only two rookies have seen significant action. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the management regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers two young talents have totaled nine catches in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

What is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on side quests?

It will prove a challenge for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a division filled with consistently successful teams. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No foundation. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being bad in the NFL is not knowing you're underperforming. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

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