The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they will likely take Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza. With a potential franchise signal-caller in the fold, the next step will be getting a head coach who will allow Mendoza to develop into a top player in the NFL.
On Jan. 3, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported, citing sources, that there is the expectation that head coach Pete Carroll will last just one season in Las Vegas, whether that ends with a dismissal or a decision to step away. The Silver and Black is expected to run an extensive coaching search, with minority owner Tom Brady playing a role in the process.
As a result, it looks like Carroll’s time in Las Vegas is over. So, where do the Silver and Black turn to? FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd believes that the Raiders need to go after Kevin Stefanski, who is reportedly on the way out of the Cleveland Browns, per NFL insider Jay Glazer.
“What I would do if I was the Raiders, I would hire Kevin Stefanski,” Cowherd said on the Jan. 4 edition of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.” “I would hire Stefanski; I would give him Mendoza. I think Stefanski is not a yeller. He’s more of a teacher. Mendoza, his personality, he’s intensity. They have to fix their offensive line. They got Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, but the Raiders have to fix the O-line. It’s a mess.”
The Browns Appear Ready to Part Ways With Kevin Stefanski
Furthermore, reports surfaced this week that the Browns have been exploring other options if they parted ways with Stefanski.
“The Cleveland Browns have done some background work to gather information on potential head-coaching options, and are leaning toward moving on from two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski,“ Dianna Russini of The Athletic said.
“With the success of EVP and general manager Andrew Berry’s most recent draft, he’s likely to stay, but those discussions are ongoing heading into Cleveland’s final game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Browns are 4-12 after finishing 3-14 in 2024.”
Tom Brady Ready to Bring Coaching Help to the Raiders
On Jan. 4, a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio revealed that Minority owner Tom Brady is likely to have a significant say in the search, and he has his eyes on a couple of former New England Patriots.
“There’s a rumor currently making the rounds that, once Brady rolls up his sleeves (while also wearing one glove and an expensive-ass watch), he’ll make the case for bringing in Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores,“ Florio wrote in an article published on Jan. 4.
“As the chatter goes, Flores would be the head coach, and former Giants coach Brian Daboll would be the offensive coordinator. Like Flores, Daboll has extensive experience with the Patriot Way. Daboll was there for the first three Super Bowl wins of the Brady/Belichick era, and for two of the second trio of championships.”
Nonetheless, the Raiders cannot afford to mess up the potential Mendoza pick and will need to do everything to put the Indiana star in a position to succeed.
Raiders Get Strong Kevin Stefanski Take Amid Browns Uncertainty