Las Vegas Raiders Part Ways with Head Coach Josh McDaniels
The Las Vegas Raiders have parted ways with head coach Josh Pierce after a disappointing 4-13 campaign in 2024. Pierce, a former linebacker, took over as the interim head coach midway through the 2023 season and was hired for the full-time gig in 2024.
The team struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position, attempting to replace franchise quarterback with a combination of Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder. The quarterback issues plagued the team, which lacked talent on both sides of the ball and struggled with depth concerns after injuries struck.
Despite some bright spots, including the impressive performance of rookie tight end Brock Bowers, the team’s 10-game losing streak and inability to make plays in close games ultimately led to Pierce’s departure. The Raiders defense showed improvement, finishing 15th in yards allowed and 15th in passing yards, but it was not enough to save Pierce’s job.
Pierce’s tenure was marked by a 9-17 record over one and a half seasons. He was elected to go with Minshew as the starting quarterback out of the gate, but eventually benched him after five weeks and a 2-3 record. The team’s struggles led to a coaching change, with Scott Turner taking over as interim offensive coordinator.
The Raiders’ parting with Pierce sets up the team to make their third coaching hire in three seasons. The team has not made a playoff appearance since 2002 and has not won a postseason game since the same season. With players like Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers, Christian Wilkins, and Jakobi Meyers, the next head coach will have a strong foundation to work with, but finding a franchise quarterback will be a top priority.
