The Las Vegas Raiders understand they need to get this head coach hire right, and they will likely select Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza. Among the names linked to the Silver and Black is former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is in line to be the Los Angeles Chargers‘ offensive coordinator if he doesn’t get a head coach job.
McDaniel was named the 11th head coach of the Dolphins on Feb. 7, 2022. Moreover, he assembled a 35-33 regular-season record over the past four seasons and led the team to playoff appearances twice (2022, 2023) in that time.
Nonetheless, McDaniel is an offensive-minded coach and will likely want to have a second crack at being a head coach while also helping develop Mendoza. On Jan. 25, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared the latest regarding McDaniel and his prospects of being the Raiders’ next head coach.
“Still in the mix for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job is Mike McDaniel, who is expected to be the Chargers offensive coordinator,” Rapoport said. “Assuming he doesn’t get a head coaching job, he has pulled out of some of these things, but he is still in the mix for the Raiders. So we will see what Las Vegas ends up doing and whether or not McDaniel ends up heading to LA.”
Tom Brady Under Pressure to Get Raiders QB Situation Right
Raiders minority owner Tom Brady appears to be involved in the hiring process for the next head coach. As a result, Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Fitz believes there’s pressure on Brady to ensure that Mendoza becomes the team’s franchise QB, and that, in turn, means hiring the right head coach.
“Tom Brady himself needs to make sure that the infrastructure is taking care of his quarterback,” Fitz said on the Jan. 23 edition of “Yahoo Sports Daily.” “Tom Brady needs to make sure the person that knows what it takes for a quarterback to be surrounded with the right things needs to damn well make sure that the team he calls himself an owner of has that very infrastructure.
“If the Raiders don’t get it right with Fernando Mendoza, if they ruin Fernando Mendoza, not the other way around. If the Raiders ruin Fernando Mendoza, I’m looking squarely at you, Tom Brady.”
Las Vegas Need to Do Everything to Develop Fernando Mendoza
Fitz added that if the team drafts Mendoza, the first year should be about setting up everything to help him develop. That means work on the field, like strengthening the offensive line, as well as the off-field details, down to what he eats in the team cafeteria.
“When you draft a quarterback first overall, every single person in your building, all the way down to the janitor, needs to speak the language of that quarterback. So if Fernando Mendoza has a certain way he likes things, great. Whatever you need to make sure that you are insulating him and communicating to him in the best language that gets the best out of him, all the way down to the cafeteria people.
“I need everybody in that room to have one goal, only one goal. It’s not winning games… I don’t care. What I care about is, is everybody in the building focused on development of Fernando Mendoza, because now that’s more important than when you win.”
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