LAS VEGAS RAIDERS IN DISARRAY AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS NAME
In a shocking turn of events, the Las Vegas Raiders are left scrambling after Kliff Kingsbury withdrew his name from consideration for the team’s offensive coordinator position. The decision, announced on February 3, has left the Raiders with a major setback as they search for someone to lead their offense.
Head coach Antonio Pierce, known for his defensive background, was hoping to bring in a strong offensive mind to run the team’s offense. With most of the top offensive coordinators already hired by other teams, the Raiders now find themselves at a significant disadvantage.
Prior to offering the job to Kingsbury, the Raiders had interviewed UCLA head coach Chip Kelly twice. Speculation is now swirling that Kelly may be the favorite to fill the vacant position. However, with Kingsbury’s sudden withdrawal, the team’s plans remain uncertain.
This unexpected twist has put Pierce’s tenure as the man in charge off to a rocky start. While he won’t be calling the plays himself, it is crucial that he assembles a competent coaching staff. The defensive coaching staff, led by coordinator Patrick Graham, is solid, but the offensive side of the ball now faces major question marks.
The Raiders had seemed close to finalizing a deal with Kingsbury, but his sudden change of heart has left the team in a state of uncertainty. It remains to be seen how the Raiders will regroup and find a new offensive coordinator to fill the void.
The Raiders were reportedly considering Kelly for a potential role within the team, as he was brought in for interviews on multiple occasions. Like Kingsbury, Kelly has experience in coaching at the college level and calling plays. Despite being a head coach since 2009, it appears that Kelly is willing to take a step back and focus solely on offense.
In the past, Kelly was highly regarded as one of the brightest offensive minds in football. However, his reputation has diminished since his time at Oregon. While he did lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a top-five offense in 2013 and 2014, it has been a decade since then. Perhaps a role where he can solely concentrate on the offense will allow him to thrive once again.
With limited options available, taking a chance on Kelly might be the Raiders’ best move at this point. However, it does come with some risk, considering he has not called plays at the NFL level since 2016.
Among the candidates the Raiders have interviewed, only Mike Sullivan, Chip Kelly, and Luke Getsy remain available. Both Getsy and Sullivan were responsible for lackluster offenses last season, making them less than inspiring choices.
Alternatively, the Raiders could choose to expand their search for other potential candidates. The Washington Commanders have yet to make a decision on offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who could be an option if they decide to go in a different direction. Another possibility is to bring in Sullivan or Getsy for a trial period and reevaluate the situation next season.
Regardless of the path they choose, the current situation is less than ideal for the Las Vegas Raiders. This will be Antonio Pierce’s first major challenge since becoming the full-time head coach, and it will be intriguing to see how he responds.
Austin Boyd has provided coverage on the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for several years.
