The Las Vegas Raiders find themselves sinking deeper into another lost season, sitting at a bleak 2-9 in their first year under head coach Pete Carroll.
What was intended to be a stabilizing new era has instead become a continuation of the struggles that has defined the franchise for more than a decade. While much of the criticism has been directed at the coaching staff and the patchwork roster assembled for 2025, the conversation around accountability has begun to change.
One of the longest-running narratives surrounding the Raiders has been the role of owner Mark Davis in the team’s struggles. Fans have never been shy about voicing frustrations with him, especially as the losses have piled up under multiple coaching staffs and front-office regimes. But according to some insiders, blaming Davis for the organization’s current state may be misguided.
During a recent discussion on a Raiders-focused podcast, Hondo Carpenter argued that Davis is far from the franchise’s central issue. He highlighted Davis‘ willingness to spend, his investment in elite facilities, and his hands-off approach with coaches as signs of a committed owner rather than a dysfunctional one.
“I don’t think it’s Mark Davis because there are a lot of places that would love to have an owner [who] will spend any amount of money to win,” he stated.
Carpenter acknowledged that Davis has made questionable hires over the years, but emphasized that the intent has always been to win, and that not every owner is willing to match that level of financial commitment.
In his view, the problems lie more with the people Davis has trusted to guide football decisions than with Davis himself.
Growing attention on Brady’s influence
While Davis has faced plenty of criticism over the years, the national spotlight is shifting toward someone else inside the building: minority owner Tom Brady.
Since joining the franchise in an advisory role, Brady has reportedly exerted significant influence over major football decisions, from the hiring of Pete Carroll to the additions of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
Multiple league insiders have suggested that Brady‘s fingerprints are all over the team’s 2025 blueprint, which has quickly unraveled. With the Raiders struggling in nearly every phase of the game, analysts have begun openly questioning whether Brady‘s involvement has done more harm than good.
“It’s just not working,” said Mike Florio. “That’s the thing, Tom. You want to do this, but you can’t clone yourself, one to be the Raiders owner, the other to work for FOX. If this doesn’t work, the blame falls on you.”
Some have even suggested that Davis is deferring too heavily to Brady, effectively allowing the former quarterback to shape the organization despite holding only a minority stake.
As the Raiders drift toward another season outside the playoffs, frustration continues to grow among fans and commentators. And while Davis may remain the face of ownership, the broader conversation now includes pointed questions about whether Brady‘s input has accelerated the franchise’s decline.
For a team searching desperately for stability, the internal dynamics may be as concerning as the losses themselves.
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