Top head-coaching candidate spurns Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady for job with appealing NFC team
The Las Vegas Raiders must now pivot. The latest NFL head coaching news has thrown a curveball in their potential plans for their next HC. Tom Brady and co. must choose a different route than many expected them to go over the course of the last couple of weeks. Ben Johnson goes to Bears According […]
The Las Vegas Raiders must now pivot. The latest NFL head coaching news has thrown a curveball in their potential plans for their next HC.
Tom Brady and co. must choose a different route than many expected them to go over the course of the last couple of weeks.
Ben Johnson goes to Bears
According to Tom Pelissero, the Chicago Bears are finalizing a deal with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become their next head coach.
The Raiders were certainly considered a potential landing for Johnson during this coaching cycle and had a virtual interview with him last week. Instead, he joins a Lions division rival alongside young quarterback Caleb Williams.
Tom Brady and Ben Johnson also spent hours on a zoom last weekend, according to Dianna Russini. Clearly, both sides had interest.
"He made a strong case and Johnson strongly considered making the move to Las Vegas…" — Russini
According to Jordan Schultz, there was "never a point when the Raiders were the frontrunners for [Ben] Johnson" during their search, though. Regardless, they must now turn to other options, potentially Pete Carroll or Mike McCarthy as their next HC.
Pete Carroll next up for LV?
Carroll interviewed last week for the job, and there was some reported positive feedback from that meeting.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Raiders and Pete Carroll, the former USC Trojans and Seattle Seahawks head coach, spent all day on Monday at the headquarters for an interview. If that's the case, the Raiders must really like him, as do the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys.
Pete Carroll is about as good of a fit for the Raiders as you can get. Sure, Ben Johnson is the flashy name, but a young, first time head coach is not the guy you want rebuilding a team with virtually nothing but an elite tight end, a decent WR1, Maxx Crosby, and some good defensive line pieces. Sure they have the cap space, but it feels like they are also hiring a first time general manager. For Carroll, the Raiders would be bringing in a bridge type of head coach, a guy that’s rebuilt franchises before, won a Super Bowl, and had 11/14 winning seasons in a tough division. But, he’s up there in age. Carroll is really perfect for the situation.
Johnson is off the board, a top candidate around the entire league. Now, we will see whether or not the Raiders choose another young candidate or a proven, experienced option.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders trade up for Shedeur Sanders, Jaguars take best player in NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft is just five months away, and the draft order is taking shape. We're getting more and more confident on which teams are picking at the top of the draft, even if the order isn't set, and draft grades are starting to get settled. I've been scouting for 11 years now, and […]
