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Tom Brady dedicated over two decades to a unwavering mission: becoming the most accomplished QB in league history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in his post-playing career, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has endorsed cryptocurrency. He's spreading American football to Saudi Arabia. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either diverse or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Side projects are understandable. But overseeing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady functions as the de facto decision-maker for the Las Vegas franchise, presently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on this past weekend after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland 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 plays in the final period. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any franchise this year. On defense, Las Vegas allowed significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been dysfunctional for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a thorough domination. Fortunately Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was working in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a partial stakeholder of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last summer, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and aimless franchise in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't appoint 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a college national championship, to oversee a protracted process back up the league table. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Instead, Carroll is staring at the prospect of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Turmoil

This isn't all Brady's fault, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and executives 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 erased any clear strategic direction. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a franchise."

Brady made the key hires and placed the Raiders on this directionless path. He hired John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including trading a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a running back No 6 overall despite having a poor-performing offensive line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he signed off on handing a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive scheme, Smith looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has submarined any aspirations for Ashton Jeanty and the ground attack. At the very least, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, counting down the plays to the conclusion 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 single-season record, leads a dominant defensive unit. And there is optimism around the impressive first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing 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 defense gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises understand their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, 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 failed to adjust during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been tension between the coaches and the front office regarding the limited playing time 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 passing game. Carroll continues to roll out experienced veterans on defense over young players in need of experience.

Uncertain Direction

What is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team function when its primary influencer participates sporadically, signs off franchise-altering moves, 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. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have talented young QBs. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The single factor more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not knowing you're bad. 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 benefit from more than limited attention of it.