The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of one of their worst seasons in franchise history, and things are only getting worse. The team fell to 2-12 after a 31-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, which was the second time they’ve lost 31-0 this season.
Head coach Pete Carroll has to be feeling the heat now. If the Raiders were 2-12 and showing signs of progress every week, there’d at least be something to build off of, but they seem to get worse every game.
At 74, Carroll isn’t the kind of coach a rebuilding team wants. Also, it’s fair to question if he even wants to stick around, considering he has said many times that he didn’t expect this season to go this way.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Raiders might have a plan in place to move on from Carroll without having to fire him.
“Something has to change,” Florio wrote. “But will it? Coach Pete Carroll shouldn’t want to stay. The Raiders shouldn’t want him to stay. Current speculation, per a league source, centers on some sort of a negotiated resolution, pursuant to which Carroll ‘retires’ and gets a portion of what he’s owed. (The Raiders, we’re told, will be financially off the hook as to former coach Antonio Pierce, since he signed only a two-year deal when he got the job in 2024.)”
Raiders Worst Team in 10 Years?
Carroll is a very good football coach. He has proved that across multiple decades. However, there’s a reason he’s the oldest football coach in NFL history. At some point, everybody loses their fastball.
It doesn’t help that the Raiders have arguably the worst roster in the NFL. In fact, it might be one of the most talent-devoid teams in years.
“The talent isn’t there. As one source remarked, they look like the worst team of the past ten years,” Florio wrote.
Tom Brady Could Be a Negative Factor
Tom Brady was considered a big asset for the Raiders last offseason when he was approved as a minority owner. That may no longer be the case.
There are many rumors about how Brady is calling the shots for the Raiders, which could deter some coaching candidates from wanting to come.
“Last year, their first choice at head coach (Ben Johnson) opted for the Bears instead, even with Brady’s best efforts to recruit him,” Florio wrote. “Will viable coach and/or G.M. candidates with options elsewhere want to work for a team where the primary owner has delegated so much authority over football to a minority owner who spends the majority of his time doing other things — and who can’t even attend most games because of his primary NFL gig with Fox?
“Brady may need to get out of the way, frankly. If he’s going to have a ladle in the stew, the best chefs may not be interested in Sin City’s kitchen.”
Brady is only in his first year in the role, so he deserves some time to figure things out. That said, he’s already going to have to help make some very tough decisions that could have major ramifications for years to come.
Raiders’ Potential Plan to Get Rid of Pete Carroll Leaked