Tom Brady’s first season as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders was expected to usher in a new era of stability and direction. Instead, what’s unfolded has been anything but. With the team sitting at 2-10 and riding a six-game losing streak, the franchise looks more uncertain than ever as it limps into the final stretch of the season.
Brady, who purchased a 5% minority stake in the franchise in October 2024 as part of a deal reportedly valued at $670 million, has been more than just a figurehead. According to reports, he’s had a significant voice in some of the team’s biggest decisions this year - including the hiring of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and trading for quarterback Geno Smith.
But those moves haven’t yielded the results the Raiders were hoping for. In fact, they’ve contributed to what’s becoming one of the most disappointing seasons in recent franchise memory.
Kelly’s stint as OC lasted just 11 games. His tenure came to an abrupt end after a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, with reports surfacing that he had gone off-script and called plays that weren’t aligned with what was discussed in team meetings. That kind of disconnect between the coaching staff and the rest of the organization is never a good sign - and it’s only added to the sense of confusion surrounding the team’s direction.
One Raiders player, when asked this week if he felt confident about the future of the team, didn’t sugarcoat his response: “I really don’t know what the plan is. I don’t think anyone knows.” That kind of candid uncertainty speaks volumes about the current state of the locker room.
It’s not just the coaching carousel or the quarterback shuffle that’s been problematic - it’s the overall performance. After opening the season with a promising 20-13 win over the New England Patriots, the Raiders have spiraled.
Their only other win came against the 1-11 Tennessee Titans. Every other game has exposed the team’s weaknesses - from inconsistent quarterback play to defensive breakdowns and a lack of cohesion on offense.
And the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Over the final five games of the season, the Raiders are set to face the Denver Broncos (10-2), Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), Houston Texans (7-5), Kansas City Chiefs (6-6), and the New York Giants (2-11).
Realistically, the matchup against the Giants is the only one that feels winnable on paper. The Raiders already lost 31-0 to the Chiefs earlier this season, and the other opponents are all in the thick of playoff races.
If the current trajectory holds, Las Vegas could be staring down a 2-15 or 3-14 finish - a brutal outcome for a team that entered the season with high hopes under new ownership influence. A record like that usually signals the need for a full-scale rebuild, and that’s exactly what may be on the horizon. The team will likely need reinforcements at several key positions, and perhaps a reset in leadership direction to restore clarity and confidence.
For Brady, this season has been a harsh introduction to the chaos and complexity of NFL front-office life. He’s expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, and that frustration reportedly extends beyond just the offense.
As a player, Brady was known for his attention to detail, competitive fire, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Now, as an owner, he’s facing the reality that turning around a struggling franchise takes more than just a winning mentality - it takes a clear plan, the right people in place, and buy-in from top to bottom.
Right now, the Raiders don’t seem to have any of that. And unless something changes - fast - this season may go down as a painful lesson in how hard it is to translate greatness on the field into success in the boardroom.