RAIDERS FIRE HC JOSH MCDANIELS & GM DAVE ZIEGLER, ANTONIO PIERCE & CHAMP KELLY TAKE OVER ON INTERIM BASIS
The Las Vegas Raiders have fired General Manager Dave Ziegler and Head Coach Josh McDaniels, the team announced early Wednesday morning.
In a surprising turn of events, and while most of the country was asleep, the Raiders turned over the regime in Las Vegas, parting ways with their GM and head coach only nine hours after the team failed to make a move at the trade deadline. The double firing was announced by the team at 1am ET/ 10pm PST, exactly 24 hours after the Raiders were embarrassed on national television by the Detroit Lions.
“The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Josh McDaniels and David Ziegler of their duties as head coach and general manager,” the club statement read. The Raiders recently gave both McDaniels and Ziegler six-year contracts in January 2022 and after a bumpy 3-5 start to the second season of their campaign, the team is already making a change. The Raiders have over four full years left on the deal that they are obligated to pay.
Raiders’ owner Mark Davis said about the firing: “After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh [McDaniels] and Dave [Ziegler]. I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best.”
Former employees of the New England Patriots organization, McDaniels and Ziegler were 9-16 in their tenure in Las Vegas, finishing 6-11 in their first year together. Their tenure included big money extensions to quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, and wide receivers Hunter Renfrow and Davante Adams, all players who didn’t pan out or have been frustrated.
This is Josh McDaniels’ second firing by another NFL franchise before the conclusion of his second season, the first time in NFL history that has happened. McDaniels was also fired by the Denver Broncos during his second season with the organization after a devastating loss in Kansas City and a 3-9 start. Both Ziegler and McDaniels lasted only 639 days in Las Vegas.
An hour after the surprise announcement, the team followed up their public statement with another, confirming that linebackers’ coach Antonio Pierce will take over as the Interim Head Coach. Pierce, a former Washington Redskin and New York Giant linebacker, most recently spent time on the coaching staff at Arizona State before transitioning to the league as the Raiders linebacker coach last year. Pierce is now the 13th different head coach for the Raiders since the team’s last playoff win during the 2002 season.
The team also confirmed that Assistant General Manager Anthony “Champ” Kelly will take over the front office duties as the team’s Interim General Manager.
Kelly spent seven seasons in personnel and scouting with the Chicago Bears after eight seasons in Denver and was a candidate for the General Manager positions at the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively. A former Kentucky Wildcat wide receiver, Kelly has a master’s degree in business administration, and a thorough acumen in drafts, free agency, and advanced scouting.
While there’s not much to do for a GM between the trade deadline and the end of the regular season, the Raiders did confirm that they will conduct a comprehensive search for both head coach and general manager once the season is complete.
As per The MMQB’s Albert Breer’s reporting on Wednesday, the Raiders also fired offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi.
Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce won Super Bowl XLII with the New York Giants at the conclusion of the 2007 season and will face his old side on Sunday in his head coaching debut.
As per Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Vincent Bonsignore, with McDaniels out of the picture, the Raiders are leaning toward starting rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell this week against the Giants. After a poor showing in Detroit, this would mean that veteran Jimmy Garoppolo could be headed to the bench.
O’Connell has already played in two games this season, starting their primetime game against the Packers on Monday Night Football, and has looked like the Raiders’ best quarterback so far this season. The Raiders host the Giants at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, with kickoff at 1:25 PST.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Sharanr.