Mike Vrabel has been linked to the Raiders as a potential replacement for head coach Antonio Pierce, but there is a lot that would have to happen to make it a possibility.
First of all, Pierce hasn’t been fired and there is still a chance he will be retained after the season.
In the case that Pierce is fired after the season, are we sure that the Raiders would be Vrabel’s first choice?
Vrabel is expected to be one of the hottest coaching candidates after the season, and the Raiders are not considering by many to be the top destination for coaching candidates.
Last week, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky talked about Vrabel’s interest around the NFL and college, and he said he believes the former Titans head coach is already leaning in a direction for his next head coaching gig.
”I think Vrabel is spoken for,” Orlovsky said on the Pat McAfee Show.
”I think that Vrabel has got a very clear… path to where he going to be likely coaching,” Orlovsky continued. “I think there is a vision for where he likely ends up coaching next year. I’m not a reporter. I’ve come on your show before and I’ve said I heard something and it got me in a lot of trouble, so I’m trying not to do that.”
Orlovsky wouldn’t say which team he was referring to, but one of McAfee’s co-hosts said this week that he thinks he knows the team.
“Word on the street is that Vrabel wants to coach at one place,” Connor Campbell said on Thursday’s show.
“That is very real. Allegedly, Vrabel is very interested in being the head coach of the New England Patriots… I believe that is who Orlovsky was talking about when he said Vrabel might have a place already.”
If the Raiders know already that they are not Vrabel’s preferred destination, there’s a chance they may be inclined to stick with Pierce for another year.
Unless there is a top candidate who has Las Vegas at the top of their list, will the Raiders prefer to roll the dice on another unproven coach, or will it make just as much sense for Mark Davis and company to roll with Pierce for one more season?
In theory, it should probably be considered a good sign for Pierce if Vrabel is focused on a return to New England… or anywhere else for that matter.
Interesting Note…
The New York Post’s Brian Costello believes the Raiders are the team Orlovsky was referencing a week ago.
x: @raidersbeat
I think that not if but when Davis fires coach AP he should get rid of Telesco.This deer in headlights moron sucked in the chargers org and also the raiders. Got rid of jacobs and signed Menshew. He never gave AP the tools he needed. I really really like AP. Straight forward type of coach no BS. I think that because of Brady being a minority owner and friend of Vrabel it’s weeks away. He would be my choice of the next HC. Fire Telesco
Well Walter I have to disagree with you big time!! To me Telisco is the ONLY person football wise to have done his job this season. He had a pretty good draft, got a starter or two out of that. He got a couple of starters in free agency, and picked up a couple more signing off the scrap heap!! He saved us a bunch of money hopefully to spend this year on some free agents. Now as for AP, I’m glad you like him but the truth is he can’t coach!! Terrible decision maker, doesn’t know how to manage the clock or game. He needs a lot more experience to be a head coach. No shame in it but it was his first shot at head coach at any level so he just isn’t ready yet. As for Josh Jacobs, I miss him a lot but he didn’t want to be a Raider any longer. He made the right decision for himself and family and is having a great season in Green Bay so happy for him. Raiders fans should only want players who want to be there!! Anybody else should get packing and that includes Max Crosby!!
Well the Offense is starting to play a lot better so is o’connell keep building on that and let the team gel and develop together… stop with the quick fix and starting over and paying for players that made a name for themselves with other teams that didn’t work… this GM has made a lot of bad moves and a lot of good Raider players are gone and the team is left starting over and over… look the Lions went a few bad years but the team stayed together and the players stayed together look at them now… they rebuild one time went through a couple years growing pains but they believe and stayed together… good offensive coordinator and team they made progress… Need a RunningBack… maybe a good idea to pickup Myles Garrett and a big nose guard….Maxx on one side and Myles on the other… wishful thinking… MARRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE…
It needs to start from the top, Mark Davis needs to be an absent owner and turn over the team to Tom Brady. Fire AP, draft Arch Manning in the 2026 Draft. Use the first draft on the running back from Boise State. Draft picks in rounds 2 and 3 in 2025 draft on offense linemen. Wide receivers in rounds 4, 5, and 6. Supplemental picks and 7th rounds on defense.