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Tom Brady committed over two decades to a unwavering objective: establishing himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He achieved that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He serves as a broadcaster for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in Birmingham. He has promoted digital assets. He's spreading the NFL to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his family pet. Brady's post-career activities appear either diverse or unfocused, depending on your perspective.

Side projects are understandable. But managing a NFL team is not 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 Sunday after enduring a 24-10 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were humiliated by a underperforming team with a quarterback making his first NFL start. The Raiders' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless plays in the final period. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and faced pressure 46 times, a season record for any franchise this season. On the defensive side, Las Vegas surrendered big plays to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for the majority of the campaign. 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 another game.

A Series of Dubious Choices

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's football decisions, becoming a partial stakeholder of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the least entertaining and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected to be a lengthy reconstruction. The Raiders didn't hire 74-year-old Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a championship and a NCAA title, to oversee a long slog back up the standings. He was supposed to return the team to competitiveness and then hand them off with a stable base 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.

Organizational Turmoil

This isn't entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through coaches and front-office heads at a speed that would make even the New York Jets feel embarrassed. The Raiders are on their seventh coach and fifth GM in 15 years, a turnover rate that has erased any coherent long-term vision. Nevertheless, it's Brady's influence that are evident throughout this iteration of the Raiders. "This is the Tom Brady show," league reporter a prominent journalist said last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll stated of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to leave his mark on a team."

Brady made the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He hired John Spytek, his college buddy and co-worker in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He approved a roster plan to the coach's specifications, including dealing a third-round pick for Smith and drafting a running back with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He recruited Chip Kelly away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid OC in the NFL. And he signed off on handing a flaky blocking unit – the bedrock for that coordinator and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Results

It has become a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and resilient. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive scheme, the quarterback looks washed and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any hopes for their rookie and the run game. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was stark. The situation often seems dire with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. 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 stellar-looking rookie class that includes two potential stars – a dynamic runner at running back and Carson Schwesinger at linebacker. There is also the rookie QB, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Granted, it was facing the Raiders' defense, but Sanders demonstrated that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a complete preparation period to prepare, he was solid, taking what the defense gave him and displaying glimpses of creativity. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his debut game since 1995.

Lack of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a reflection the Raiders should avoid. Good organizations recognize their situation in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a competitive squad, or rebuilding. Vegas began the season believing they were a couple of moves away from competitiveness. In spite of the overwhelming evidence otherwise, they failed to adjust during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen real playing time. There has reportedly already been disagreement between the coaches and the front office regarding the lack of action for two rookie offensive linemen, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in eleven contests, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Unclear Direction

Where is the path forward? Will Carroll be back or Spytek or the quarterback? And who actually makes those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its most powerful decision-maker participates sporadically, approves major organizational decisions, and then vanishes on side quests?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division filled with perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, other rebuilders have paths. The New York Jets are loaded with upcoming selections. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No foundation. No quarterback. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The only thing more problematic 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 call the shots in the offseason.

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