The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of change, with owner Mark Davis deciding to fire general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels.
Ziegler and McDaniels were unable to instill their version of the “Patriot Way” in Las Vegas, and Davis made the right decision to part ways with them. Champ Kelly and Antonio Pierce will replace them as interim general manager and head coach, respectively.
Davis now faces the difficult task of figuring out who will replace Ziggler and McDaniels. Kelly and Pierce will have a chance to use the remainder of the 2023 season to prove they’re worthy of the jobs, but Davis is more likely to look outside the organization.
Davis will reportedly take advice from Tom Brady when deciding who to hire, via CBS’s Jonathan Jones, as CBS’s Michael Hurley transcribed below:
“What happens next in Vegas? Sources tell me Mark Davis is expected to lean on team executive and future part-owner Tom Brady for advice on who to lead the team. In the last package After the trade, Davis will likely hire a general manager and then a player-centered head coach at the end of the season.”
It’s a bit interesting to ask Brady given his ties to the Patriots, but he should at least be able to provide some insight into what players are looking for in a general manager and head coach they like. Brady may not have any franchise management experience, but his status as the greatest player of all time is still impactful.
Another interesting thing to consider is whether Brady agrees to fire Ziegler and McDaniels, considering he’s still buying a minority stake in the team. If he is, that could be a good sign for Davis because it means he won’t be trying to implement the “Patriot Way” in Las Vegas.
Raiders reportedly ghosting every team ahead of NFL trade deadline
Davis’ decision to fire Ziegler and McDaniels came the day after the trade deadline. The two were reportedly still evaluating their options at the deadline, but the organization was apparently keeping a lid on anyone considering a trade.