The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of finding their next head coach after the team fired Pete Carroll following their 3-14 2025 NFL season. While the Raiders roster has a couple of talented pieces, it’s a team in need of a rebuild.
Although the Raiders have Geno Smith, he’s not the answer long-term. With the Silver and Black holding the No. 1 pick, it’s clear that Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza will likely be the guy they take in April’s NFL Draft.
With Las Vegas predicted to be Mendoza’s landing spot, CBS Sports NFL analyst Leger Douzable believes that the Raiders should consider going after the QB’s college coach, Curt Cignetti.
“Curt Cignetti, and I say that because when you look at the Raiders team, it’s almost like a blank canvas,” Douzable said on Jan. 12 on CBS Sports HQ. “There are so many positions that need to be filled. Well, it was like that for Cignetti when he got to Indiana, and he’s a program builder. Now, a lot of people would be like, I don’t know a college coach jumping to the NFL level.
“One thing we know, the college game is closer to the NFL game than it has ever been in history, right? Because of NIL, every year’s free agency. So, Cignetti would know how to handle that, right? And again, he’s a program builder. He’s a guy who has a fundamentally sound team. That’s what the Raiders need.”
Raiders Are an Attractive Job, Insider Says
With Mendoza likely in the fold and minority owner Tom Brady involved with the Raiders, FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer notes that Las Vegas have the most attractive job opening this offseason.
“This is what candidates tell me they’re looking for; No. 1, you’re looking for a quarterback,” Glazer said in a video posted by FOX Sports on Jan. 12. “So if you’re looking for a quarterback, obviously, Lamar Jackson. Then you’re looking for, okay, how’s the general manager? How’s my partner? What’s the structure going to be?
“Then it’s ownership. Who’s not going to meddle? A lot of these teams, their owners don’t meddle. As far as the most attractive, if you’re asking me, Vegas [has the most attractive opening], what am I talking about? I could work with Tom. Yeah, I’d have to go probably [with] Vegas because of Tom.”
Raiders Get Prediction Amid Head Coaching Search
While Cignetti would be an interesting choice, that might not be the route the Raiders take. On SI’s Hondo Carpenter, who covers the Silver and Black, shared details on the type of coach the Raiders want leading them for the foreseeable future.
“I think Stefanski or [John] Harbaugh would be great hires,” Carpenter said on the Jan. 10 edition of the “Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast.“ “They are not going to be great hires in Vegas. Both men are going to want more money and longer terms than the Raiders are willing to give, and can you blame Mark [Davis]? He is paying tens of millions to people who do not coach here anymore. Then they are going to want more control than the Raiders are willing to give.
“I do not have a problem with that if you are the Raiders, as long as you get it right. Both guys would be great choices, but not great choices within the perimeter of what the Raiders want. I think they are going to end up with a young coach. I think they are going to end up with a young offensive coach.”
Raiders Get Curt Cignetti Message Amid Fernando Mendoza Link