Brady's Part-Time Role with the Raiders: A Chaotic Scenario

Tom Brady dedicated 23 NFL seasons to a singular objective: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL history. He accomplished that dream. Today, in retirement, Brady has explored numerous endeavors. He works as a commentator for Fox. He's engaged in construction projects in the UK. He has promoted cryptocurrency. He's spreading American football to the Middle East. He maintains a successful YouTube channel. He even cloned his dog. Brady's post-career activities appear either diverse or aimless, based on your perspective.

Secondary ventures are one thing. But managing a professional franchise is not a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the unofficial football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders dropped to 2–9 on Sunday after suffering a decisive loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Raiders didn't just lose; they were embarrassed by a underperforming team with a QB making his professional debut. The Raiders' offense averaged 2.9 yards per play before garbage-time plays in the final period. Their quarterback was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a season record for any team this year. On defense, Las Vegas surrendered significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been dysfunctional for the majority of the season. Any way you slice it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. At least Brady didn't have to witness it. The architect of this current situation was sitting in Dallas on the network coverage for another game.

A Collection of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year leading the team's personnel choices, becoming a partial stakeholder of the franchise in 2024. But he was responsible for every major decision last offseason, and all of them has backfired. Those moves have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't supposed to be a multi-year rebuild. The Raiders didn't hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, among a select group to win both a Super Bowl and a NCAA title, to manage a long slog back up the league table. He was expected to return the team to relevance and then transition them with a solid foundation in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another reboot.

Franchise Turmoil

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, naturally. The majority owner is still the majority owner. Davis has cycled 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 head coach and fifth general manager in 15 years, a turnover rate that has eliminated 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 a prominent journalist said last offseason. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said 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 placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his former teammate and colleague in Tampa, to act as general manager. He approved a team strategy to the coach's specifications, including dealing a draft selection for Geno Smith and drafting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a bottom-tier O-line. He lured an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the top-earning offensive coordinator in the NFL. And he signed off on entrusting a flaky offensive line – the foundation for that coordinator and ball carrier – to Carroll's son.

Disastrous Results

It has become a complete failure. The previous year's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a confused mess. Carroll has installed an outdated defensive scheme, Smith looks past his prime and the Raiders' blocking unit has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was expected to bring enthusiasm. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the conclusion of the game.

The contrast with Cleveland was pronounced. Things are always bleak with the Browns, but there are glimmers of optimism. Their star defender, now just five quarterback takedowns away from the NFL all-time mark, leads a formidable defense. And there is optimism around the stellar-looking rookie class that includes two potential stars – Quinshon Judkins at RB and a skilled defender at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be The Answer at quarterback, but who is An Answer in the short-term.

Admittedly, 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 effective, taking what the defense gave him and showing flashes of improvisation. Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie QB to win his first start since 1995.

Absence of Vision

Sanders and the rest of the Browns' first-year players symbolize promise. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the ecosystem: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or undergoing reconstruction. Vegas entered 2025 believing they were a few adjustments away from respectability. In spite of the clear indications to the contrary, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be throwing out rookies to find out what they have for the future. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has apparently already been tension between the coaching staff and the front office regarding the lack of action for two young blockers, despite the o-line being a sieve. Rookie receivers two young talents have combined for nine receptions in 11 games, despite the ineffectiveness in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize experienced veterans on defense over rookies in need of experience.

Unclear Future

What 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 franchise operate when its primary influencer logs in occasionally, signs off franchise-altering moves, and then disappears on side quests?

It's going to be a challenge for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have clear trajectories. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have promising young quarterbacks. The Raiders have little to build upon. No core. No quarterback. No identity. No plan.

The only thing more problematic than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are developing, or who will call the shots in the offseason.

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