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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular mission: becoming the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that goal. Now, in retirement, Brady has ventured into numerous endeavors. He works as a commentator for a major network. He's involved in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's expanding American football to the Middle East. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either diverse or unfocused, based on your viewpoint.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But overseeing a professional franchise is hardly a part-time job. In addition to his other roles, Brady functions as the de facto football leader for the Raiders, currently the least successful team in the league.

The Raiders dropped 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 humiliated by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the fourth quarter. Their quarterback was tackled 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains 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 witness it. The primary decision-maker of this latest Vegas mess was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Series of Questionable Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only spent one season leading the team's football decisions, becoming a partial stakeholder of the franchise in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last summer, and all of them has proven unsuccessful. Those moves have left 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 hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, one of only three coaches to win both a championship and a college national championship, to oversee a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the possibility of being one-and-done in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a rate that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's fingerprints that are all over this version of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," NFL Insider Tom Pelissero commented last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his first press conference in January. "This is his opportunity to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the key hires and set the Raiders on this directionless path. He hired John Spytek, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. 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 O-line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the NCAA, making him the highest-paid OC in the league. And he approved entrusting a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coordinator and ball carrier – to the coach's family member.

Disastrous Outcomes

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a team with limited success, but they were competitive and resilient. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has implemented an outdated defensive philosophy, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were uninspired on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast 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 single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the impressive rookie class that includes multiple promising talents – a dynamic runner at running back and a skilled defender at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is a viable option in the short-term.

Admittedly, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the stage was not too big for him. With a full week to prepare, he was solid, taking what the opposition gave him and showing flashes of creativity. Sanders became the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' rookie class represent future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders should avoid. Successful franchises recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas began the season believing they were a couple of moves away from respectability. 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 real playing time. There has apparently already been disagreement between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a weak point. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of reps.

Uncertain Direction

Where is the future direction? Will the coach return or Spytek or Smith? And who actually makes those choices, Brady or Davis? How can a franchise operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, approves 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 conference stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The Jets are stocked with upcoming selections. The Titans and Giants have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No quarterback. No identity. 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 developing, or who will make decisions in the offseason.

Tom Brady once mastered football through intense dedication. The Raiders could benefit from more than an hour of it.