Tom Brady's Part-Time Raiders Project Descends into Chaos
The Las Vegas Raiders' dismal season hit a new low on Sunday, slumping to a 2-9 record after a comprehensive 24-10 defeat by the Cleveland Browns. The loss was not just a defeat; it was an embarrassment at the hands of a team starting a rookie quarterback for the first time. As Geno Smith stood dejected, sacked ten times and pressured on a season-high 46 occasions, the architect of this mess, Tom Brady, was absent, commentating on a different game in Dallas.
A Rudderless Ship in Vegas
Since becoming a minority owner and the de facto football czar in 2024, Brady's fingerprints are all over this iteration of the Raiders. His offseason decisions have universally backfired. He hired his college buddy, John Spytek, as General Manager. He greenlit trading a third-round pick for quarterback Geno Smith and drafted a running back sixth overall despite a bottom-tier offensive line. He lured Chip Kelly to become the highest-paid offensive coordinator and entrusted the fragile offensive line to the son of head coach Pete Carroll.
The result has been a catastrophic collapse. Last year's four-win Raiders were at least scrappy. This year's model is a confused and lifeless mess, averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per play before garbage time against the Browns. The contrast with Cleveland was stark. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, in his first NFL start, looked composed, leading the Browns to a victory and becoming their first rookie QB to win a debut since 1995.
No Identity and No Clear Path Forward
The fundamental issue plaguing the Raiders is a total lack of direction. Good NFL organisations understand their position: they are contenders, frisky playoff hopefuls, or rebuilding. The Raiders entered 2025 believing they were close to respectability, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Unlike the Browns, who are giving rookies valuable playing time, Vegas has only two rookies seeing significant action, causing reported tension between the coaching staff and front office.
The questions now are damning. Will Pete Carroll be back for another season? What about Spytek or Smith? And crucially, who makes these decisions—Brady or majority owner Mark Davis? The Raiders are in a division stacked with perennial contenders, yet they possess no core, no franchise quarterback, no identity, and no coherent plan.
Tom Brady mastered football through ruthless, singular focus. His post-retirement portfolio is diverse, but running an NFL franchise cannot be a part-time side hustle. For the Raiders to escape this unholy mess, they need far more than an hour of his attention.
