Results rarely come overnight, especially for a franchise that has endured over 20 years of inconsistency and instability from the ground up. The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to build a stable organization during that time, posting a 135-179 record in the regular season since 2003 with only two playoff appearances. Both ended in losses.
Now in their seventh season in Las Vegas, the Raiders still haven’t fully established their identity. Their most notable season since moving from Oakland, California, was the difficult 2021 campaign. Majority owner Mark Davis, mainly a businessman, has not demonstrated the same football expertise as his father, Al Davis. Since Al Davis died in 2011, Mark has struggled to prove himself as a successful NFL owner after inheriting the franchise.
Davis saw an opportunity to rein in Tom Brady, one of the most highly regarded players ever to play football. All 32 NFL owners unanimously approved Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Raiders. Despite Brady’s illustrious career, winning seven Super Bowls and establishing a legacy of over 20 years of success, many fans believed his sharp, competitive mentality would transfer smoothly into his ownership role in late 2024. However, that has not happened so far.
Brady’s first year as a minority owner was difficult, especially since he was reportedly expected to play a significant role in the team’s operations. However, the team finished the 2025 season with a disappointing 3-14 record.
Brady’s Tactics Have Been Highly Ineffective
Tom Brady has shifted his focus from his playing career to his business ventures since retiring in 2023. While he remains involved in the NFL as an on-air analyst for Fox Sports on a long-term $375 million 10-year contract, his busy year-round schedule creates challenges for him and the Raiders if he genuinely wants to make a positive impact on the organization.
In his role as a “limited” minority, Mark Davis is highly confident that Brady can take the initiative to gain more flexibility that could help their operations. The image Brady is creating seems more like a shadow owner, an advisor who avoids attracting attention. This could be a strategy to Brady’s advantage while staying exclusive. It is impractical for an organization like the Raiders, which has failed to develop a stable front office for decades.
Brady’s image draws coaching candidates and players eager to join Las Vegas and help build a successful team, and not every mistake by the Raiders is entirely his responsibility. To change the organization’s trajectory, Brady attempted to bring in Ben Johnson and Matthew Stafford as part of the team’s rebuild.
Ben Johnson Was Never on Onboard With Vegas
Tom Brady was involved in the Raiders’ search for their next head coach and general manager after Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco were fired following just one season. Ben Johnson, who left the Detroit Lions to pursue a head coaching position, was the top candidate NFL teams were interested in.
Brady urged Johnson to interview with the Raiders. The Raiders did interview Johnson for their open coaching role. However, Johnson had different plans and signed with the Chicago Bears to be their head coach. The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a 12-5 regular season record, having won the NFC North and their thrilling Wild Card matchup against the Packers.
Brady made a strong effort but struck out as the Raiders hired Pete Carroll as their head coach. Unfortunately, Carroll’s expertise caused the team to regress, making them the worst NFL team in 2025 at 3-14.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1963681147965378596?s=20
Ben Johnson saw Chicago as a place where he could rebuild the organization and mentor their future quarterback, Caleb Williams. Las Vegas didn’t have that same structure, as they planned to sign a veteran quarterback before drafting a rookie in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Brady’s next move happened when trade rumors started circulating that Matthew Stafford might want to leave the Los Angeles Rams.
Bidding War For Matthew Stafford
During the 2025 offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders aggressively pursued Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in a potential blockbuster trade. Brady reportedly coincidentally encountered Stafford at a ski resort in Montana.
The Raiders were prepared to offer a significant contract extension of over $100 million for the next two years. Their approach was aggressive because the New York Giants attempted to trade for a veteran quarterback after releasing Daniel Jones. Ultimately, Stafford chose to stay in Los Angeles after he and the Rams agreed to a restructured contract, citing family reasons and a desire to keep playing for a playoff contender.
After missing out on Stafford, the Raiders considered other quarterback options in free agency. Sam Darnold, who was a free agent at the time, was one of those options. However, Tom Brady was not interested in signing Darnold. Ultimately, the Seattle Seahawks signed Darnold afterward.
Darnold’s signing with the Seahawks came after the Raiders traded for quarterback Geno Smith. Pete Carroll mainly supported Smith after their six-year stretch together with the Seahawks. Their confidence in Smith didn’t last long as his season ended one game early due to an ankle injury. Geno Smith underperformed badly, throwing for only 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and getting sacked a league-high 55 times.
Throughout his first year of consistent effort, Brady successfully secured one long-targeted individual, Chip Kelly. This move had repercussions as the season progressed.
Brady Gets His Man, But Not The Results
The Raiders appointed Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator for the 2025 season, making him the highest-paid in that role with a 3-year, $18 million contract. Hiring Kelly was due to his fast-paced style, which helped Ohio State win the National Championship. Las Vegas had just assembled a younger core of offensive players through the NFL Draft, hoping they would click in this new offensive scheme.
The season started with a lackluster performance. Problems emerged as Kelly ranked 31st in both scoring and total yards. Poor playcalling played a major role in limited passing, mismanaged run-game strategies, and an ineffective offensive line that couldn’t block well. There was also reportedly a miscommunication during plays, where Kelly would call the wrong plays or forget which ones to run.
After only eleven games, the Raiders fired Kelly, making him yet another coordinator to be let go mid-season.
A Clean Slate for 2026
Tom Brady enters a new chapter as a second-year team owner, starting fresh. After Week 18, he will travel to Las Vegas to interview candidates for the new head coach role, amid reports of potential departures by Pete Carroll. Additional coaching staff changes are expected as the franchise prepares for another rebuild.
The Raiders end their season with a 3-14 record and hold the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The organization faces a long offseason as it prepares for the next season.
Brady will develop a better understanding of how to manage football operations in Las Vegas as the year progresses—at least that’s the hope. For the nearly unanimous greatest quarterback in NFL history, it would be ideal for the Raiders to emulate some of Brady’s success.
Leave a comment