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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a singular mission: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He accomplished that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has explored various pursuits. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his dog. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or aimless, based on your viewpoint.

Side projects are understandable. But overseeing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Raiders, presently the least successful team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the 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 2.9 yards per play before meaningless action in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the season. 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 current situation was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Questionable Choices

To be fair to Brady, he has only spent one season leading the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless franchise in the league.

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 Super Bowl and a college national championship, to manage a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Dysfunction

This isn't all Brady's fault, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the New York 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. Still, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero commented last summer. "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 was responsible for the crucial appointments 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 approved a team strategy to Carroll's preference, including trading a draft selection for Geno Smith and selecting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier offensive line. He lured Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning OC in the NFL. And he approved entrusting a unreliable blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and competitive. The current Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for 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 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 running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defensive unit, 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 Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Absence of Direction

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent promise. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing young players 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 lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a weak point. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have totaled nine catches in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Uncertain Direction

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or the GM or the quarterback? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to get better – and they are in a conference filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other reconstructing teams have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The single factor more dangerous than being bad in the NFL is not recognizing you're underperforming. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the summer.

Tom Brady once excelled at football through intense dedication. The Raiders could use more than an hour of it.