Owner Mark Davis released a statement saying, “After much thinking about
what the Raiders need to move ahead, I have decided to separate ways with
Josh and Dave.” “I want to express my gratitude for their efforts and send my
best wishes to them and their families.”
When pressed over the phone to elucidate on the reasons behind the firings,
Davis responded, “No comment at this time,” to ESPN.
Antonio Pierce, the Raiders’ linebackers coach, has been named the team’s
acting head coach. Champ Kelly, the team’s current assistant general manager,
will take over as interim general manager. The company stated in announcing
the promotions that “after the season is concluded,” it will conduct “a
comprehensive search” for a head coach and general manager.
Along with Mick Lombardi, the Raiders also sacked him as offensive
coordinator, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
According to sources who spoke with ESPN and verified an NFL Network
report, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree would be promoted to offensive
coordinator and take over offensive playcalling, which had been handled by McDaniels.
The Raiders’ 26-14 loss to Detroit on “Monday Night Football” marks Las
Vegas’ second straight loss in which their offense was unable to muster any
momentum. The move was made the day before. The Raiders fell to 3-5 after the loss.
When interim coach Rich Bisaccia and then-GM Mike Mayock took over after
coach Jon Gruden resigned in mid-season in 2021, the team finished 10-7 and
made an unexpected run to the playoffs in 2021, marking the organization’s
second postseason appearance since 2002. McDaniels and Ziegler were both
hired in January 2024
McDaniels and Ziegler were supposed to lead the team to the “next phase” in
its development, avis stated at the time. Rather, under the new leadership, the
Raiders went a combined 9-16 without making the playoffs, and McDaniels
concluded his career with the third-worst record of any Raiders coach who had coached at least 25 games.
In his previous stint as head coach, which spanned from 2009 to 2010,
McDaniels did not lead the Denver Broncos for two complete seasons either.
Before the completion of his second season, he was fired by two teams, making
him the first non-interim coach in Super Bowl history.
The offensive scheme and experience of McDaniels as an offensive coordinator
for the New England Patriots, with whom he shared six Super Bowl rings, captivated Davis.
However, the Raiders’ offensive prowess did not carry over to Las Vegas, as the
McDaniels-Ziegler combination led the team to some of its most humiliating
losses in franchise history. The biggest collapse in franchise history occurred
when the Colts lost to Indianapolis in their first game under Jeff Saturday, the
interim coach, despite Saturday having never coached above high school; two
days after Mayfield joined the Rams, they blew a double-digit lead against
Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams; and in New Orleans, they were shut out.
Two weeks prior, in Tyson Bagent’s first career start as an undrafted rookie
quarterback from Division II, Las Vegas was defeated 30–12 by Chicago.
Derek Carr, a nine-year starter who was benched and deactivated for the last
two weeks of 2022, was let go by the Raiders this season. They signed Jimmy
Garoppolo, a former student of McDaniels in New England who was often
injured, to a three-year, $72.75 million free agent contract in March.
Garoppolo had surgery on his left foot shortly after signing with the Raiders,
which kept him off the field for the entire offseason program and forced him to
be on a “pitch count” during training camp.
