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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular objective: establishing himself as the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into various pursuits. He serves as a commentator for a major network. He's engaged in construction projects in the UK. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding American football to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's post-career activities appear either eclectic or unfocused, based on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But managing a NFL team is hardly a casual commitment. In addition to his other roles, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a struggling team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time action in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offense that has been ineffective for the majority of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a thorough domination. At least Brady didn't have to watch. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Decisions

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

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 championship and a college national championship, to manage a protracted process back up the league table. He was expected to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Organizational Turmoil

This is not all Brady's fault, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and front-office heads at a rate that would make even the Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh head 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 evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," 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 put his stamp on a team."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including trading a third-round pick for Smith and selecting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing O-line. He lured Chip Kelly away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he approved handing a unreliable offensive line – the bedrock for that coach and running back – to Carroll's son.

Catastrophic Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an old-fashioned defensive scheme, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined 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, counting down the snaps to the conclusion 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 NFL single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is a viable option in the immediate future.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the stage was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to get ready, he was solid, accepting what the defense gave him and showing glimpses of improvisation. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Direction

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 understand their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. Despite the clear indications to the contrary, 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 significant action. There has apparently already been tension between the coaching staff and the management regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the lack of spark in the aerial attack. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

What is the path forward? Will the coach return or the GM or Smith? And who truly decides those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, signs off major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on other projects?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic than being ineffective 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 offseason.

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