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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He achieved that goal. Today, in retirement, Brady has ventured into numerous pursuits. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in development ventures in Birmingham. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's spreading American football to the Middle East. He operates a popular YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's retirement ventures appear either eclectic or aimless, based on your perspective.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a NFL team is not a casual commitment. In addition to his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial decision-maker for the Raiders, currently the most hapless team in the league.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after suffering a 24-10 defeat to the Browns. The Raiders didn't just get defeated; they were humiliated by a underperforming team with a QB making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before meaningless plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas allowed significant gains to a Cleveland offense that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the campaign. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the Fox broadcast for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season leading the team's personnel choices, becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every significant move last summer, and all of them has backfired. Those decisions have left the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless franchise in the NFL.

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 Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to oversee a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to competitiveness and then transition them with a stable base in place. Conversely, 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 entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. Mark Davis is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled through head coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the Jets blush. The Raiders are on their seventh head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated any clear strategic direction. Still, it's Brady's influence that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," league reporter Tom Pelissero said last offseason. "He's been deeply engaged," 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 key hires and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed John Spytek, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and selecting a running back 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 offensive coordinator in the league. And he approved handing a flaky blocking unit – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Results

It has become a disaster. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were scrappy and resilient. The current Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive scheme, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any hopes for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for the plays to the end of the game.

The difference with Cleveland was stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are embers of hope. 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 first-year players that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at quarterback, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defensive unit, but Sanders showed that the stage was not too big for him. With a full week to prepare, he was effective, taking what the defense gave him and showing glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

Lack of Direction

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Good organizations recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a contender, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season thinking they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. Despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they haven't pivoted midstream. Like Cleveland, Vegas should be throwing out young players to find out what they have for the coming years. But only two rookies have seen significant action. 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 offensive line being a weak point. Rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Unclear Direction

Where 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 function when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, approves major organizational decisions, and then disappears on other projects?

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

The single factor more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders don't know where they are, what they are building, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

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