HENDERSON, Nevada (AP) With the Raiders’ season over, all eyes are on owner Mark Davis and whether he will overhaul the franchise in the coming weeks or keep key leadership in place.
Interim coach Antonio Pierce made the case for the latter approach, leading Las Vegas to a 5-4 record after taking over in midseason. The Raiders, who fired coach Josh McDaniels on October 31, finished 8-9 overall.
“Everything that Mark asked me to do, I tried to do my best to accomplish that,” Pierce told reporters on Monday. “Now, we fell short in the playoffs, but I believe you saw a team that was very competitive each week. “Total buy-in.”
According to NFL hiring rules, Davis must conduct a search that includes interviews with at least two external candidates who are minorities or women.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh could be the hottest name in the NFL hiring market, given his success with the Wolverines and previous NFL experience with the San Francisco 49ers, whom he led to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. His recent hiring of agent Don Yee fueled speculation about a possible return to the NFL.
Yee also represents Tom Brady, who has applied for an ownership stake in the Raiders, and is a part owner of the WNBA’s two-time champion Las Vegas Aces, which Davis also owns.
Davis has a history of making headline-grabbing hires, and Harbaugh certainly fits the bill. However, after revitalizing the locker room, Pierce has given the owner plenty to think about.
“I can honestly tell you that I don’t know where I would be right now mentally and physically if AP hadn’t taken over, and that’s no shot at Josh and what he was doing,” defensive end Jermaine Eluemunor said. “But for me, it just wasn’t going the right way. “AP is taking over and instilling confidence in everyone, bringing that dog out of everyone in this locker room.”
If the players had a vote, the coaching search would be effectively over, but whether Pierce stays depends on Davis.
“I’m a Raider until I’m not a Raider anymore, right?” Pierce said. “But I still have it in my blood, so we’re good.”
The search for a general manager has begun.
In addition to deciding what to do with the coaching position, Davis must make a decision as general manager. Champ Kelly was named interim GM after Pierce was promoted.
The Raiders have requested a minimum of four interviews.
One is with 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters, according to a source familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team had not announced it. According to NFL Network, the other initial candidates are Indianapolis Colts’ Ed Dodds, Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Brown, and Buffalo Bills’ Terrance Gray.
Moving on to the general manager’s position first indicates Davis’ desire to settle that position so the individual can have a say in who becomes the coach.
The Carolina Panthers announced that they have requested an interview with Kelly and seven other executives from various teams.
TALKING QUARTERBACKS
The Raiders will draft 13th, likely putting them out of the running to select a top quarterback in what is expected to be a deep draft at that position.
Las Vegas could stick with Aidan O’Connell, who completed 62.1% of his passes as a rookie for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He had nine touchdown passes and one interception in his final six starts.
“I like what Aidan has done as far as how he carries himself on and off the field and in this building,” he said.
After Pierce took over, O’Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million contract last offseason, but it’s unclear whether he’ll stay in Vegas.
“I’m pretty open,” Garoppolo explained. “A lot of things are beyond my control. I’ve been in situations like that before, so as a player, you have to roll with the punches a little. Whatever happens, I believe everything happens for a reason. “You have to make the most of your situation.”
JACOBS WANT TO RETURN.
Josh Jacobs stated that he would like to return to Las Vegas, “especially with AP being the coach,” but it is unclear whether this will happen. After leading the NFL in rushing in 2022, Jacobs was involved in a contract dispute after the Raiders applied the franchise tag to him. Following training camp, the two sides reached an agreement on a one-year contract.
Jacobs’ production dropped this season, from 1,653 yards to 805, and he missed the final month due to a quadriceps injury. Zamir White, who replaced Jacobs, rushed for 397 yards in four starts.
KEEPING IT CLEAN.
The Raiders committed 75 penalties, the fewest in the NFL. They played two games without penalties.
They became the seventh team since 1960 to do so twice in one season, and the first since the New England Patriots in 2013.
Pierce acknowledged that the Raiders’ historic reputation as a team that pushes the envelope was undermined by the lack of penalties, but that being the best in the league demonstrated the team’s commitment to detail and discipline.
“I wanted to make sure we hit that goal because that’s huge,” he said.
