The Las Vegas Raiders are looking for a new head coach, once again. Antonio Pierce was fired on Tuesday afternoon. He received one full season as Raiders' head coach, going 4-13 in 2024. That included a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the season. To boot, Pierce compiled a 5-4 record to end the 2023 season after becoming interim head coach following the firing of Josh McDaniels.
Since 2018, the Raiders have had four different head coaches. Jon Gruden was there from 2018 to 2021, resigning early in the 2021 season due to reported past emails of his surfacing. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia took over that year and actually got the Raiders to the playoffs. Though, Las Vegas opted to not bring him back. McDaniels and Pierce soon followed afterwards.
Now, the Raiders are looking to reshape things again. It comes at a time where every other AFC West team made the playoffs this season. What kind of head coach hire will Las Vegas be looking to make, as a result? Candidates could easily range from big, home-run type of swings to coaches getting second chances as a head coach in the NFL.
The Greatest Of Potential Big Swings
And interestingly, there is a new dynamic in the Raiders' franchise within this upcoming coach search. Tom Brady is a minority owner of the team. His relationship with majority owner Mark Davis has been heavily documented in a short span. But as Dianna Russini of The Athletic has mentioned, Brady will have a key voice in helping to shape the future of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Does Brady look to old friends, colleagues or teammates to help turn the Raiders around? If so, it makes a potential headline-grabbing hire even more impactful for Las Vegas this time around. One of his former teammates is arguably seen as one of the top head coach candidates available. That would be Mike Vrabel. Vrabel has already begun interviews and is reportedly set to interview at almost every coaching opening, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Vrabel is seen as someone who can instill toughness in his team, elevate players that are seen as unheralded and is crafty in game-management situations. His success in Tennessee is something the Titans are probably wishing they had not moved on from, after the whole mess that has ensued following his surprise firing. Vrabel would be a big swing for the Raiders, while also getting someone who Brady is familiar with.
Other Potential Big Swings Worth Monitoring
There are other swings of the bat that the Raiders could take that could be considered eye-popping. Let's start with the same kind of idea as Vrabel is as a candidate. The other name who is seen as a highly-desirable option by seemingly every team with an opening is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Getting Johnson would be a huge get for the Raiders for a few reasons. One, his offensive brilliance as a play caller and play designer offers potential that Las Vegas has not had offensively in ages. In addition, Johnson has been patient and selective in choosing his first head coaching opportunity. If he chooses your organization as his first major leap from coordinator to head coach, that could be a rare opportunity at creating a vision he views as successful. Johnson is also a young mind that could possibly provide the Raiders new ideas that they have sorely missed for too long.
Pete Carroll is a name that has come up in reports of being interested in returning to a head coaching role. This season was the first year since 2000 in which he was not the head coach of a football team. His combined 23 seasons at USC and with the Seattle Seahawks were obviously very successful and fruitful. The Chicago Bears is a spot where he is reported to be interviewing. But if you wanted to take a major chance on someone who has built new cultures, the Raiders could grab headlines by targeting Carroll. Even at his age, his energy and ability to relate to players has been well documented.
Finally, it would not be right to at least throw a wild, off-the-wall candidate for a team like the Raiders. Deion Sanders is a name that should not be eliminated from a list of candidates for a franchise like this. Sanders appears content staying at the college level. However, Brady does have a relationship with Sanders' son, and 2025 NFL Draft prospect, quarterback Shedeur Sanders. It is also possible that Las Vegas could make a move in the draft to select Shedeur. With Deion, he is someone who would not be afraid of the pressure and the bright lights that come with the Raiders.
Second Chance Options
There are a few names who have already had runs as an NFL head coach elsewhere that the Raiders may view as viable options. The first name that stands out is current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He is another name that would have past ties with Brady from their time together in the New England Patriots organization. Flores had an up-and-down tenure as Miami Dolphins head coach. Though, his defensive work in Minnesota has turned heads.
If you look at another defensive coordinator who has been a head coach before, Vance Joseph may get some momentum for a second chance. This is due to how impactful his Broncos defense has been this season. They have helped swing momentum so often, helping lead to Denver ending their lengthy playoff drought. Could he get a fresh head coaching opportunity, while remaining in the AFC West?
Elsewhere, Kliff Kingsbury is a sneaky option as a coach who could receive a second chance. He had some hot starts in Arizona that turned into messy finishes as Cardinals head coach. He helped turn the Washington Commanders around as offensive coordinator this season. His offensive philosophies could help reinvigorate a hapless Raiders' offensive attack. Plus, he had interest in joining the Las Vegas coaching staff last offseason, but contract details reportedly were not met by the team.
First-Time Options
There is always a chance that the Raiders go for someone who has not had previous head coaching experience. There are a handful of names that stand out who seemingly have been requested for interviews by multiple teams with current openings. This is a list that includes Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Most or all of these names have received varying degrees of buzz in past offseasons as a potential NFL head coach. But for many of these names, some of their best jobs as coordinators or assistants was conducted this year. It could simply be a matter of when, not if, that these handful of names get their chance as the lead man.