The Las Vegas Raiders have fallen to 2-11 during Antonio Pierce’s first season as the club’s full-time head coach. Understandably, this has some wondering if team owner Mark Davis could consider hiring an upgrade come January.
For a piece published Wednesday, NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN explained why former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is being mentioned by some within the league as a potential replacement for Pierce.
“The addition of Tom Brady to the ownership group has potentially altered the dynamic, as team owner Mark Davis would like Brady to have a real role in the decision-making,” Graziano said about the Raiders possibly moving on from Pierce after one completed campaign.
Meanwhile, Fowler noted that “Brady’s influence as a minority owner there could loom large for Vrabel or others with ties to the former quarterback.”
Last winter, Vrabel was first linked with the Raiders, long before Brady officially became a limited franchise partner. The two “were very close over eight years as teammates (with the New England Patriots) and have maintained a relationship since,” NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained in January. While Pierce hasn’t covered himself in glory during a season in which the Raiders have no legitimate quarterback answer, Vrabel went 54-45 with the Titans and won the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award for the 2021 campaign.
Brady is expected to help recruit personnel to the Raiders “on every level” but may have some competition if he’s serious about convincing Davis to hire Vrabel. Vrabel reportedly would consider speaking with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson about that club’s opening, and it’s still unclear if Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones will either move on from Mike McCarthy after Week 18 or sign McCarthy to a new deal. The Chicago Bears could also call Vrabel if they’re not married to the idea of hiring an offensive guru as head coach to work with quarterback Caleb Williams.
“The Raiders make a lot of sense, should that job open,” Fowler added about where Vrabel may land.
As for Pierce, he’ll have to try to focus on stacking wins beginning with Las Vegas’ matchup versus the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons this coming Monday night. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Raiders as 4.5-point underdogs for that contest.