It’s hard to feel excited for what the Las Vegas Raiders are building. Head coach Pete Carroll said upon taking the job that the team was going to push to win immediately instead of taking time to rebuild.
He has quickly learned that the roster had a lot less talent than he realized, and his coaching staff might not be as strong as he thought. It would’ve been unthinkable that Carroll would be one-and-done with the Raiders, but it’s starting to look like a real possibility.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes that there will be coaching changes in Las Vegas, and Carroll isn’t 100% safe.
“Carroll is a name to monitor because the Raiders are clearly in rebuilding mode from a roster/talent standpoint,” Fowler wrote. “At 74, he is in it to win now and to prove that he’s capable of turning around an organization. Those plans aren’t meshing. I don’t necessarily see him walking away, though he’s clearly not getting what he signed up for in January. So, a question of whether the Raiders should reset and continue the rebuild with another coach is worth asking. At least the Raiders have pillars such as Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby and Ashton Jeanty for a hopeful turnaround in 2026.
“Either way, something has to change with the offense and playcaller Chip Kelly, whose name could surface for college jobs again. The 30th-ranked offense is a tough watch, especially when it involves the act of handing off the ball.”
Albert Breer Not Sure if Carroll is Safe
Carroll might be a Hall of Famer one day, but fixing the Raiders might be too much for an older coach. There’s talk that he might just want to retire instead of dealing with the mess, but quitting doesn’t seem to be in his DNA.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer thinks that Carroll will be back for another season, but isn’t confident in that answer.
“I think he will be, but I’m not certain of it,” Breer wrote in a recent mailbag. “What’s important from here on out is that young players on the roster (Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech, DJ Glaze, etc.) are continuing to develop. If that’s not happening, all bets are off.”
What Should Raiders Do?
There are compelling arguments both ways regarding what the Raiders should do with Carroll. This is different than an Antonio Pierce or Josh McDaniels situation. Carroll has a proven track record of turning teams around.
That said, the roster clearly needs a rebuild, and he’s going to be 75 next season. It’s not impossible to turn things around quickly. Hiring offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was a whiff, and he needs to be fired.
Getting a better playcaller in there would certainly help. The Raiders also have a ton of salary cap space this offseason. If Las Vegas lands the right free agents and drafts some impact players, it’s not impossible that they are much more competitive in 2026. However, if the Raiders aren’t any better, then they’ve wasted another year on a coach who isn’t going to be around long, even if they get good.
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