Raiders coaching search: Go on the offensive

Las Vegas would be wise to look at coaching candidates who can breath life into offense

The Las Vegas Raiders are aiming high.

After firing Antonio Pierce after one full season as head coach (nine games as interim head man in 2023) on Tuesday — a day after he had the usual Monday press conference — the Silver & Black embark on another coaching search.

And it began with a pair of lofty requests.

Sports Illustrated reported the Raiders requested interviews with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. And then came another eye-opening report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero: Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reached out to Bill Belichick about his interest in coming to Las Vegas.

The Silver & Black are indeed aiming high — rightfully so — and this coaching search appears to be more comprehensive than the farce that netted Pierce the job last offseason.

Expect the reports to grow from here on in as Las Vegas joins five other NFL teams seeking to land a new head coach.

By the way, check out how our Matt Holder ranks the job openings between the Raiders, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets.

With how the 4-13 Raiders stumbled along in the 2024 campaign — especially offensively — Las Vegas should go on the offensive and bring in a head coach who can breath life into an impotent offense. The Raiders ended this past year ranked 29th in points scored (309) and 27th in yards gained (5,154). Only the Cleveland Browns (258 total points), New York Giants (273), and New England Patriots (289) scored less points. And only the Chicago Bears (4,820), Patriots (4,964), Giants (5,011), Carolina Panthers (5,066), and Browns (5,154) gained less yards.

While Las Vegas’ defense needs attention, too — the team gave up the 25th most points (434) and 15th most yards (5,663) — the Raiders were the only team in the AFC West to have a negative point differential at -125. The division champion Kansas City Chiefs sport a 59 point differential while the Los Angeles Chargers finished with 101 and Denver Broncos with 114 point differentials.

Oh, and all three of those division foes are in the playoffs.

Thus, the Raiders are going to need the offensive firepower to compete.

Sure, the eventual head coach could net themselves a high quality play caller at offensive coordinator, but landing a head coach the likes of Johnson, for example, who can call their own plays while being the lead man steers Las Vegas in a better direction than what the Raiders had this past season.

Statistically, it wasn’t as bad as the 2006 and 2014 season where the Silver & Black were ranked 32nd in points and yards gained (‘06) and 31st and 32nd in the same categories in ‘14, but visually, it was woeful.

Thus, let’s take a look at head coach candidates who can uplift a Silver & Bleak offense. I’ll dub them the Fantastic Four:

Ben Johnson

Detroit Lions, Offensive Coordinator

Arguably the prized catch of potential head coaches, Johnson is the architect of an explosive and exciting offense in Detroit. His play design and play calling acumen are top notch — as displayed by the Lions’ No 1-ranked offense which has dropped 564 total points on opponents for slightly over 33 points per game average — and Johnson scheming up plays for tight end Brock Bowers is quite scintillating.

Yet, Johnson is likely to generate interest from all six teams who have openings, although, he’s slated to virtually interview with the Raiders this Friday. And Las Vegas’ quarterback situation is quite the conundrum.

But if there’s a coach to help shape up the offense in the desert, it’s the 38-year-old Johnson.

Joe Brady

Buffalo Bills, Offensive Coordinator

Will Tom Brady steer the search committee towards a young offensive mind with his namesake?

The 35-year-old orchestrated the second-best offense in the league this year as the Bills scored 525 points (nearly 31 points per game average) and designed an offense that emphasized the strengths of quarterback Josh Allen. Even trading wide receiver Stefon Diggs didn’t slow down Brady’s offense in Buffalo, which is impressive.

Granted, Brady won’t have a Josh Allen-type in Las Vegas and he did have a bumpy run as Matt Rhule’s play caller with the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21. And that may be indicative of what we see from Brady in a bad organization (the Raiders among one of them).

Liam Coen

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Offensive Coordinator:

Another younger coach at age 39, Coen coordinated a Bucs offense thanked finished fourth in points scored (502, 29.5 points per game average).

Able to get the best out of a quarterback in Tampa (Baker Mayfield set career highs) and young talent in the mix (running back Bucky Irving was productive, as were rookies Jalen McMillan and Graham Barton), Coen can scheme and call plays with the best of them.

He also sat under the Sean McVay learning with the Los Angeles Rams — an added bonus.

Kliff Kingsbury

Washington Commanders, Offensive Coordinator:

The one that got away.

Originally the initial offensive coordinator hire by Pierce back on February 1, 2024, Kingsbury withdrew his name from the opening and eventually landed with the Commanders to run their offense.

With Washington, Kingsbury engineered the fifth-best offense that scored 485 points (28.5 points per game average) and has rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in the Offensive Rookie of the Year running (if not front runner).

Kingsbury’s tenure as head coach with the Arizona Cardinals didn’t end well, but he’s restored his credentials with his work with the Commanders.

Best of the Rest: Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens, Offensive Coordinator; Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles, Offensive Coordinator; Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans, Offensive Coordinator; Jon Gruden (gulp!).