Tom Brady's Part-Time Role with the Las Vegas Raiders: A Chaotic Situation

Tom Brady committed over two decades to a singular objective: becoming the most accomplished QB in NFL 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 development ventures in Birmingham. He has endorsed digital assets. He's expanding American football to Saudi Arabia. He operates a successful YouTube channel. He replicated his family pet. Brady's retirement activities appear either eclectic or aimless, depending on your perspective.

Side projects are one thing. But overseeing a NFL team is not a part-time job. Alongside his various responsibilities, Brady also serves as the de facto football leader for the Las Vegas franchise, currently the most hapless team in the NFL.

The Raiders fell to 2–9 on Sunday after enduring a decisive loss 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' offensive unit averaged less than three yards per play before meaningless action in the fourth quarter. Geno Smith was sacked 10 times and was pressured 46 times, a single-game high for any team this year. On the defensive side, Las Vegas allowed significant gains to a Cleveland offensive unit that has been ineffective for most of the campaign. However you analyze it, it was a comprehensive beatdown. Fortunately Brady didn't have to watch. The primary decision-maker of this current situation was working in Dallas on the network coverage for Eagles-Cowboys.

A Series of Dubious Decisions

In fairness to Brady, he has only been involved for a year guiding the team's football decisions, after becoming a minority owner of the organization in 2024. But he was accountable for every major decision last offseason, and each one has backfired. Those decisions have resulted in the Raiders as the most unwatchable and directionless team in the NFL.

This wasn't expected 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 college national championship, to manage a protracted process back up the standings. He was supposed to restore the team to relevance and then hand them off with a stable base in place. Conversely, Carroll is facing the prospect of being fired after one season in Vegas, and the Raiders are looking at another restart.

Franchise Dysfunction

This is not entirely Brady's responsibility, of course. Mark Davis is still the controlling stakeholder. Davis has churned through head coaches and executives at a speed that would make even the 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. Still, it's Brady's influence that are evident throughout this version of the Raiders. "This is the Brady's project," league reporter Tom Pelissero commented last summer. "He's been integrally involved," Carroll said of Brady at his introductory news conference in January. "This is his chance to put his stamp on a franchise."

Brady was responsible for the crucial appointments and placed the Raiders on this rudderless course. He appointed a close associate, his college buddy and colleague in Tampa, to serve as general manager. He greenlit a roster plan to Carroll's preference, including dealing a third-round pick for Geno Smith and selecting a RB with the sixth pick despite having a poor-performing O-line. He recruited an offensive innovator away from the college ranks, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league. And he signed off on entrusting a unreliable blocking unit – the bedrock for that coach and running back – to the coach's family member.

Catastrophic Results

It's been a complete failure. Last season's Raiders were a four-win team, but they were scrappy and competitive. This year's Raiders are a disorganized situation. Carroll has installed an old-fashioned defensive philosophy, the quarterback looks past his prime and the Raiders' offensive line has undermined any aspirations for their rookie and the ground attack. If nothing else, Carroll was supposed to bring energy. But the Raiders were lifeless on Sunday, waiting for the snaps to the end 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 single-season record, leads a formidable defense. And there is positive outlook around the stellar-looking first-year players that includes multiple promising talents – Quinshon Judkins at RB and Carson Schwesinger at LB. There is also Shedeur Sanders, who may not be the permanent solution at QB, but who is An Answer in the immediate future.

Granted, it was against the Raiders' defense, but Sanders showed that the NFL level was not overwhelming for him. With a full week to get ready, he was solid, 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.

Absence of Vision

The rookie quarterback and his classmates of the Browns' rookie class symbolize future potential. That's a mirror the Raiders don't want to look into. Successful franchises recognize their position in the league hierarchy: you're either a championship candidate, a frisky playoff team, or rebuilding. Vegas entered 2025 thinking they were a few adjustments away from competitiveness. Despite the clear indications otherwise, they haven't pivoted during the season. Similar to the Browns, Vegas should be playing rookies to discover what they have for the coming years. But only two first-year players have seen significant action. There has apparently 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. First-year pass catchers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr have combined for nine catches in 11 games, despite the lack of spark in the passing game. Carroll continues to utilize grizzled vets on the defensive side over young players in need of reps.

Uncertain Future

Where is the path forward? Will the coach return or Spytek or the quarterback? And who truly decides those decisions, Brady or Davis? How can a team operate when its most powerful decision-maker logs in occasionally, signs off major organizational decisions, and then disappears on side quests?

It's going to be a struggle for the Raiders to improve – and they are in a division stacked with consistently successful teams. At the same time, other reconstructing teams have paths. The Jets are loaded with future draft picks. The Tennessee and New York have talented young QBs. The Raiders have nothing. No core. No franchise QB. No distinctive style. No strategic vision.

The only thing more dangerous than being ineffective in the NFL is not recognizing you're bad. The Raiders lack clarity on where they are, what they are building, or who will make decisions in the offseason.

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