The Las Vegas Raiders capped off a disappointing season with a 14-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but change is inevitable this offseason. It was by no means the type of season the Raiders had envisioned—one filled with frustration and drama. However, things are looking up for Las Vegas.
The Raiders now hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they will presumably select the quarterback they believe will be the future of the franchise. But that’s not the only major change expected to take place.
After the game against Kansas City, Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones approached Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll and gave him a massive hug, hinting that this was very likely the final game Carroll coached as the Raiders’ head coach.
### Raiders Expected to Move On From Pete Carroll
“That was fun,” Carroll said after the win versus the Chiefs. While it sounded like a farewell message from the 74-year-old head coach, Carroll later clarified that he “would like to come back next season,” according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
Despite Carroll’s interest in staying with the team, that likely won’t be the case. Insider Jordan Schultz reports that Carroll is expected to be a “one-and-done” in Las Vegas. NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero also noted that Carroll’s future is “very much in doubt,” and it would be a “major surprise” if he returns for a second season.
Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, is expected to be involved in the search for the next head coach, as the team looks to cast a wide net of candidates.
### The Search for the Next Raiders Head Coach
ESPN recently released an article on the NFL head coaching carousel, highlighting numerous potential candidates that teams will likely pursue. Favorites to land a head coaching role include:
– Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley
– Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak
– Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula
– Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph
– Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady
– 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh
– Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter
It will be interesting to see if the Raiders, given the lack of offensive-minded candidates on this list, still pursue a coach with an offensive background.
Other names brought up in discussions—though they are not currently coaching in the NFL—include former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, longtime head coach Mike McCarthy, and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema.
There likely won’t be an obvious frontrunner for the Raiders at the start of the hiring process, but as they continue interviewing candidates, the hope is that the organization finds someone capable of getting the Raiders back on track.
For now, Pete Carroll remains the head coach of the Raiders, and the organization will face tough decisions this offseason as they plan for the future.
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