The Las Vegas Raiders are waiting until the end of the regular season to make a final decision on head coach Pete Carroll. This has been the worst season the franchise has had in years. With a loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, it would be just the fourth time in franchise history that the team has won two or fewer games, and the first time they have ever lost 15 games in a season.
Needless to say, Carroll might have the hottest seat in the NFL right now. If the Raiders fire the Super Bowl-winning head coach, they need to have a strong list of potential candidates to replace him. Though the Washington Commanders have taken a big step back this season, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler linked offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to the Raiders.
“Kingsbury’s head coaching candidacy is interesting despite Washington’s struggles,” Fowler wrote. “The Commanders rank 21st in total offense — ahead of Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — despite a poor supporting cast ravaged by injury. He’s a potential fit in Tennessee, with a young quarterback in Cam Ward who fits his style of offense. Las Vegas, should that job open as many around the league expect, will take a hard look at improving its offense. Kingsbury has been selective but is also open to becoming a head coach again. So while he’s not the shiniest name because of Washington’s record, I could see him being in the mix again.”
Vance Joseph Also Linked to Raiders
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders took a look at Kingsbury this offseason, but he would just be one of many candidates the team could interviews. ESPN’s Dan Granziano expects Las Vegas to also take a close look Denver Broncos defensive cooridnator Vance Joseph.
“The name that jumped to my mind is Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who I believe will be on a lot of lists,” Graziano wrote. “That Sean McVay pixie dust has been the key for a lot of guys getting their first head coaching shot, and Shula could be next. I could see him being of interest in Tennessee if he brings the right offensive coordinator with him for quarterback Cam Ward’s development. I also think Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will get another shot, with Miami and Las Vegas both strong possibilities for a variety of reasons if those teams decide to make changes.”
Would Either Coach Be Right for Raiders?
The problem with Joseph and Kingsbury as candidates is that they are both failed former head coaches. Joseph went 11-21 as the Broncos’ head coach in 2017 and 2018, while Kingsbury went 28-37 with the Arizona Cardinals from 2019 to 2022.
Both have proven to be very good assistants, but neither has proven they can be the man in charge and do it at a high level. If the Raiders are going to move on from Carroll, they have to do better than Joseph or Kingsbury. At that point, the team might as well give Carroll another year, as he has a far better track record of being a head coach than those two.
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