The Raiders are four days into a head coaching search and from the outside looking in, the situation in Las Vegas doesn’t look like the most desirable situation for the top head coaching candidates on the market.
The Raiders don’t have a quarterback, and their best defensive player came awfully close to saying he would consider requesting a trade if the organization doesn’t get back on track in a hurry.
There have been a number of candidates linked to the Raiders in recent days, and one of the surprise candidates to meet virtually with the team on Friday was Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Johnson is considered by many to be the top candidate in this year’s coaching class, and it was reported in December that he didn’t want to meet with any teams he wouldn’t be willing to join.
On Friday afternoon, NFL insider Dianna Russini reported that the Raiders were laying the groundwork for a massive hire by firing GM Tom Telesco and added that Johnson would not have interviewed with the Raiders if Tom Brady had not joined the team’s ownership group.
From Russini, via The Athletic…
“This is what I’m hearing: This had nothing to do with Telesco as a GM. This has everything to do with what Brady wants to bring to Las Vegas. From what I gather, he really wants a head coach and a GM in tandem who know each other and speak the same language.
Somebody who we know wants to have a lot of power in the decision-making process: Johnson, who has agreed to interview with the Raiders — something I can tell you was not going to happen if Brady had not been involved with this organization.”
Whether or not Johnson is serious about the Raiders will be sorted out in the days ahead, and the expectation is that he’ll have plenty of options.
It’s possible Johnson simply jumped on an opportunity to have a conversation with a legendary quarterback… and no one would blame him if that was the case.
Based on reports in recent days, the Raiders are expected to primarily focus their coaching search on candidates with extensive experience.
x: @raidersbeat
The Raiders should make very quick work of this process by signing Ben Johnson and Chris Spielman from Detroit. Pretty sure they speak the same language
That’s a good start. Make it happen RAIDERS!!! Stop fooling around!!!
I like the Tampa duo
After years of watching raiders antics I think if they’re smart they’d grab Aaron Glenn and whoever he needs for a gm
If they could get Spielman and Johnson, we will be on the road to success for the first time in 20 years two legitimate no nonsense Al Davis type people
That is not going to work everybody Is on Johnson bandwagon cause he is white.The Detroit Lions have a very good roster in place as a matter of fact they have the best roster in football right now. Aaron Glenn coach and Louis Reddick GM.
The raiders can’t win ever again cause they are a bunch of racist idiots Reggie Mckenzie brought in a bunch of good pieces to start a rebuild with Jack Del Rio Gruden ole’ racist butt tore that down
You know what, I was just thinking when did the Raiders last have a decent defense?? One that went to the playoffs and had good sack totals did the best at stopping the run in the last 20-25 years? And then I saw Gus Bradley’s name pop up for getting fired. I think that was the last time wasn’t it??