Las Vegas Raiders

Bill Belichick hasn't even made it to spring practice yet in his first season as the head coach of North Carolina's football program, but he has reportedly already drawn interest from multiple NFL teams.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady spoke to Belichick "about what it would take to make a reunion happen."

That would, according to Pelissero, make the Raiders one of the "multiple NFL teams" that has "inquired" about Belichick's willingness to return to the NFL and leave the Tar Heels even after agreeing to a five-year contract with the ACC program.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini later reported Belichick "has no plans to return to the NFL" and that "his sole focus is on coaching and recruiting for North Carolina."

Belichick's contract features a $10 million buyout if he leaves before June 1, 2025.

While that may seem like a costly price tag for a team that would be interested in hiring Belichick, Pelissero explained why that isn't truly the case.

"Belichick's contract at North Carolina includes a $10 million buyout if he leaves prior to June 1, 2025, though it's not entirely clear whether it would apply if he returns to the NFL in the coming weeks," Pelissero wrote. "Either way, it's a fraction of Belichick's salary by the end of his Patriots tenure, making it relatively easy to get out of, whether an NFL team or Belichick himself pays the buyout."

This is just the latest twist in the Belichick situation, which took a shocking turn when he accepted the job at North Carolina after not coaching in the NFL during the 2024 campaign.

After all, the 72-year-old NFL legend doesn't have any experience as a head coach at the collegiate level and is stepping into a difficult world to manage with recruiting, conference realignment, the transfer portal and NIL opportunities taking up time in addition to game preparation.

Even Brady was among those who expressed their surprise at the development during a Fox broadcast, although he also praised the coach as an all-time great:

"Kind of blew me away when I heard the news." @TomBrady shared his thoughts on Bill Belichick becoming head coach at UNC 👏 @CFBonFOX pic.twitter.com/GpZmUZwG3P

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 16, 2024

Brady's role with the Raiders is now under the spotlight as the team begins its search for a new head coach after firing Antonio Pierce.

Russini reported the all-time great will have "a lot" of influence on the coaching search, which is all the more notable given his connections. In addition to his time with Belichick on the New England Patriots, he is a former teammate of coaching candidate Mike Vrabel.

But Belichick clearly left an impression on Brady as they won six Super Bowls together during their dynasty runs in New England.

Pelissero reported "Brady believes the situation in Las Vegas requires a coach of Belichick's expertise and stature to establish a sustainable winning program." Whether that means hiring the man himself remains to be seen, but there has reportedly at least been a conversation.

For now, though, Belichick is on the recruiting trail as he attempts to build a winner with the Tar Heels.

The Detroit Lions' coordinators continue to be in high demand this NFL head coaching cycle.

The Las Vegas Raiders have requested to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

The Raiders have put in requests to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, per source.

So Vegas' search is off the ground already.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 8, 2025

The Lions are allowing Glenn and Johnson to take virtual interviews between Thursday and Saturday, per Breer.

The Lions have given OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn a window from Thursday afternoon through Saturday to do head coaching interviews, per sources. All those, by rule, have to be virtual.

(As we’ve said, Johnson will be selective, and may only interview with Chicago and NE.)

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 7, 2025

Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders have requested an interview with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Glenn has previously received interest from the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars, while Johnson is being pursued by the Bears, Jaguars and New England Patriots, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

The Raiders will join this list after announcing the firing of former head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday.

Multiple reporters have noted that Johnson is expected to be choosy when deciding whether to leave the Lions next season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported during the 2024 regular season that he expected Johnson to be "very, very selective about the place that he chooses to go if he decides even to leave Detroit."

NBC Sports' Mike Florio more recently wrote on Monday that Johnson will only consider going somewhere he can be "on the same page with the front office."

"Johnson will take interviews, but he will be selective. He might say no. Teams that might otherwise be interested that he would have declined might not even ask for him," Florio wrote, naming the New York Jets as an example.

Johnson will now take a look at the front office environment in Las Vegas, led by owner Mark Davis and general manager Tom Telesco, while considering the franchise's recent history of high head coaching turnover.

Monken, meanwhile, is getting a look after two seasons with the Ravens. After helping Lamar Jackson win the MVP award in 2023, the quarterback is an MVP candidate once again in 2024 while the offense finished the regular season with the most yards in the NFL, third in scoring.

The Raiders have had four head coaches over the last four seasons due to the midseason resignation of Jon Gruden, the midseason firing of Josh McDaniels and the dismissal of Pierce after one full season at the helm.

Las Vegas will now wait to see if these coordinators accept the interview requests in the upcoming week.

Glenn and Johnson are already expected to be top candidates after helping the Lions to a 15-2 finish and the top seed in the NFC.

Despite missing key defenders like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, Glenn's defense held opponents to an NFL-low 82.0 passer rating in 2024. The Detroit offense meanwhile led the league with 32.2 points per game under Johnson.

Given the Raiders' struggles on both sides of the ball this season, either sounds like a compelling candidate for the upcoming Las Vegas Raiders. But Davis and the Raiders are already set to face steep competition in their hiring pursuit, and the Lions coordinators could put themselves further in demand by leading Detroit on a deep playoff run this winter.

Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll will reportedly interview for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

News of Carroll's interview surfaced the same day that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson started to pop up as one of the top candidates for the vacancy, according to Fox Sports' Peter Schrager:

Ben Johnson / Raiders actually picking up way more steam in league circles over last 48 hours. https://t.co/FbHQh0uWSg

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 11, 2025

The Raiders announced the firing of Antonio Pierce on Tuesday. Las Vegas missed the playoffs in Pierce's first full season as head coach.

pic.twitter.com/xQ3v0Omy5U

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 7, 2025

Carroll was fired after 14 seasons with the Seahawks following the 2023 campaign. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in late December that Carroll wants to return to the NFL in 2025.

Carroll, who will turn 74 at the beginning of the 2025 season, has previously "expressed interest" in pursuing the Bears' head coaching vacancy, per Schefter. He interviewed with Chicago this week, Rapoport noted.

USC, where Carroll coached from 2001 to 2009, is meanwhile currently preparing to hire a new general manager in "the coming weeks," according to Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times.

Carroll coached USC to two national championships during his tenure from 2001 to 2009, although one of those titles was later vacated. He has previously said he intends to teach at USC this spring.

The Raiders are also searching for a new general manager after firing Tom Telesco on Thursday.

Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is "expected to be part of a collaborative committee to interview head coaching candidates and support team owner Mark Davis," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That mirrored a report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini last week. She wrote that if Antonio Pierce was fired, "I would expect that Brady, as a minority owner, will have significant influence on who the next head coach will be," and added the following on Tuesday:

It will be interesting to see how much influence Tom Brady will have in this next Raiders coaching search.

I’m told it will be a lot.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 7, 2025

General manager Tom Telesco will reportedly remain with the Raiders despite Pierce's firing after just one season on the job.

Raiders are retaining GM Tom Telesco, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2025

There are obviously questions about Brady's involvement in the coaching search, and concerns about any potential conflicting interests with his dual role as an announcer for Fox Sports.

There is also the question of whether the 47-year-old can help fix an organizational culture that has led to just two winning seasons since 2003.

Let's say the Raiders want to interview Ben Johnson. Or they have, or he's turned them down, or whatever. How exactly is Brady supposed to call a Vikings-Lions divisional round game with that going on?

— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) January 7, 2025

I didn't have an issue with the Raiders giving Pierce the 2024 opportunity, either. But this organization, from the top down, hasn't had a coherent long-term vision for any length of time. Was going to be virtually impossible to succeed under those circumstances. https://t.co/Vnh48MqeA4

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 7, 2025

Obviously, one of the names that will likely be tied to the Raiders is Mike Vrabel, who was Brady's teammate with the New England Patriots and, according to Russini, one of his "good friends."

Last year, Tom Brady’s presence at the final practice of the Raiders season led some in the organization to believe Mike Vrabel was on his way. It didn’t happen, but the Brady/Seymour/Vrabel connection is one that’s lingered there.

Vrabel could get plenty of control in Vegas. https://t.co/Bv2DiRBv2X

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 7, 2025

Another coaching position opens in Las Vegas, where Tom Brady influenced the hire. Mike Vrabel would seem likely to emerge as a favorite here unless hired elsewhere first. https://t.co/1RN9r4Smpw

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) January 7, 2025

Vrabel is expected to be one of the hottest coaching candidates on the market, though, and there are far better openings than the one in Las Vegas.

There are teams with young, intriguing quarterbacks (Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars), while the New York Jets are perhaps even more disastrous than the Raiders from an ownership and cultural perspective but have more talent on the roster.

The Raiders have the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft and a ton of needs to fill, but in a year when there appears to be a definitive top-two at the position (Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward), they may miss out on addressing the position unless they spend a fortune to trade up.

Regardless of Brady's influence, any coaching candidate will have to accept just how much of a rebuild is required in Las Vegas.

Let the speculation begin because there is reportedly another head-coaching vacancy in the NFL.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that the Las Vegas Raiders decided to fire Antonio Pierce after he met with team owner Mark Davis.

It didn't take long for social media to start wondering whether this will lead to Las Vegas hiring Mike Vrabel, especially since he is a former teammate of one of the club's part owners in Tom Brady:

It will be interesting to see how much influence Tom Brady will have in this next Raiders coaching search.

I’m told it will be a lot.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 7, 2025

Will be interested to see their level of interest in Mike Vrabel, who I believe is the Patriots top target. Can Tom Brady sway him? https://t.co/0zKswUKam6

— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) January 7, 2025

now Kraft gotta hustle, because one of his biggest blunders was letting Brady buy into the Raiders, and now he is going to be going after Vrabel too https://t.co/TC0lb94Al0

— Tony LoConte (@BradyDisciple) January 7, 2025

Last year, Tom Brady’s presence at the final practice of the Raiders season led some in the organization to believe Mike Vrabel was on his way. It didn’t happen, but the Brady/Seymour/Vrabel connection is one that’s lingered there.

Vrabel could get plenty of control in Vegas. https://t.co/Bv2DiRBv2X

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 7, 2025

Tom Brady will have a lot of influence over who the Raiders choose as their next head coach.

Per: @DMRussini

Can they convince Mike Vrabel?? pic.twitter.com/HNvrmJOBfp

— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 7, 2025

Before we go all in on Mike Vrabel @Raiders please please please reach out to Ben Johnson because I’m tired of retreads and whatever you do please don’t bring back Gruden. #RaiderNation

— Willy Razo (@bigwillystyl) January 7, 2025

If you want to utilize Brady as an owner, get Mike Vrabel on the phone.

For the better part of 22 years, the Raiders have been an embarrassing product. The autumn wind has not been a pirate for a long time. https://t.co/lZjYoAhJWg

— Alec Nolan (@AlecABC30) January 7, 2025

Now here’s where it gets interesting:

Wouldn’t put it past Tom Brady and the Raiders to have already reached out to Vrabel…

— Khari D. Thompson (kdthompson5.bsky.social) (@kdthompson5) January 7, 2025

Dream scenario:

I pray that Tom Brady lures Vrabel to the Raiders
I pray that Ben Johnson joins Drake Maye in New England
The Bears can hire Kliff Kingsbury for Caleb
The Jaguars hire Matt Nagy
The saints hire Aaron Glenn
And the Bucs get to keep Liam Coen

— Joe (@JoeA_NFL) January 7, 2025

One thing the #Patriots have that the #Raiders do not, Drake Maye. Mike Vrabel knows to be successful, you need a QB, Vegas will be aggressive for him, but he understands what both organizations have to offer

— Bobby Thompson (@BThomps81) January 7, 2025

Brady and Vrabel were teammates with the New England Patriots from 2001 through 2008 and won three Super Bowls together, so there is already a connection in place.

Yet New England is also one of the teams looking for a head coach after firing Jerod Mayo, so Brady may find himself competing against his former team when it comes to hiring Vrabel.

Vrabel remains one of the names generating the most buzz during the ongoing coaching cycle for good reason. The 2021 Coach of the Year went 54-45 during six seasons at the helm with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 through 2023 and reached the playoffs three straight times during that span.

The 2019 Titans went to the AFC Championship Game with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and a defense that was 21st in the league in yards allowed, so he has a track record of overachieving with rosters that may not be the best in the NFL.

That is surely appealing to the Raiders considering they are coming off a 4-13 effort in 2024, which marked their third straight losing season.

There is uncertainty when it comes to the long-term plans at the quarterback position, and some of the top prospects in the draft such as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders may not be available by the time they select at No. 6 overall.

Finding a coach who could maximize the result on a team that isn't as talented as its divisional foes in the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos could be an important offseason goal, and Vrabel may be the answer.

Antonio Pierce's tenure as the full-time head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders is over after just one season, the team announced on Tuesday.

pic.twitter.com/xQ3v0Omy5U

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 7, 2025

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Raiders will retain general manager Tom Telesco, who was hired last January.

There was plenty of optimism surrounding Pierce when he went 5-4 as the interim coach to finish the 2023 season after the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels. A number of players, including Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams, openly campaigned for Las Vegas to give him the full-time job for 2024.

The front office did just that, but the 2024 campaign went anything but according to plan.

Las Vegas went 4-13 during a season that saw it trade Adams to the New York Jets. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II also failed to replicate the magic he found while going 7-6 as a starter for the Indianapolis Colts last season and went 2-7 as a starter before he was lost for the year to a broken collarbone.

In all, Minshew had nine touchdown passes to 10 interceptions before the injury.

The defense was also anything but inspiring and finished tied for 25th in the NFL in points allowed per game (25.5), which was particularly notable since Pierce played linebacker during his NFL career from 2001 to 2009.

The end result was a frustrating season for a Raiders team that is now looking up at the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos in the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are a known commodity, so that comes as no surprise, but Las Vegas surely doesn't want also to be playing catch up with the Chargers and Broncos.

Los Angeles' future looks bright under head coach Jim Harbaugh, while rookie quarterback Bo Nix seems to be the long-term franchise signal-caller in Denver.

With the AFC West looking like it will be strong for years to come, the Raiders decided they needed to change their reality by making a change at head coach.

That means Pierce is out after just one year in the full-time role.

Maxx Crosby is arguably the Las Vegas Raiders' most valuable asset, which naturally gives him a lot of influence.

Last year, he used that influence to help former interim head coach Antonio Pierce land a full-time gig in Las Vegas. Now, as the Raiders wrestle with whether to retain Pierce or move in a different direction, Crosby said he doesn't plan to be as vocal.

"Last year I was very vocal about wanting AP here," Crosby said. "That was very well-known and I don't take that back... Where I'm currently at, that's not my job. I'm gonna be real, that's not my job. I know my influence, I know what winning looks like, but at the end of the day, I'm strictly focused on what I do best. Being at my best is gonna help my teammates, my coaches, being a leader, taking care of the things I can control."

Raiders DE @CrosbyMaxx on staying away from influencing personnel decisions this offseason: "That's not my job."

📲 with @peter_king & @JimGrayOfficial on this week's "Let's Go!"

On the @SIRIUSXM App 🔗 https://t.co/uqPRryMvx2 pic.twitter.com/rHMq4mpjCJ

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 7, 2025

Crosby also said he trusts owner Mark Davis to make the right call regarding Las Vegas' head coach.

"At the end of the day, I have a great relationship with Mark," Crosby said. "Me and Mark have been close for years, I love the guy to death and we have great conversations all of the time. But at the end of the day, he's going to do what he thinks is best and it's his team."

In Pierce's first year as head coach, the Raiders went 4-13 and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season. They showed very little growth from the 2023 season, though they also dealt with a number of injuries throughout the year.

Crosby went to bat for Pierce this time last year, but he now seems open to a change to get the Raiders moving in the right direction.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said in Monday's end-of-season press conference that he doesn't have any updates regarding his job status.

"I haven't been told anything different," Pierce said when asked if he had any new clarity regarding his position (8:00 mark of the video below.)

When asked if he wanted more clarity, Pierce answered, "It's only coming from outside. It's not inside the building.

"So, to me, there's nothing to clean up until I hear from inside the building."

🔴📽️ Live: Antonio Pierce addresses the media from the Intermountain Health Performance Center. https://t.co/Sst2reqOJ9

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 6, 2025

When asked if he would be making any changes to his own staff, Pierce answered, "No. Not as of today."

The Raiders lost 34-20 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday to end Pierce's first full season as head coach with a 4-13 record.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo recently used similar phrasing when saying in an appearance on NFL Network's The Insiders that Pierce's impending firing was certain only "outside" the Raiders organization.

"On the inside of the building, it's sounds like there's a lot of optimism that Antonio Pierce will continue as the head coach of the Raiders," Garafolo said on Sunday.

Garafolo added that Raiders owner Mark Davis "understands there's not a lot of talent and there's a lot of youth on the roster."

Pierce entered the season without a clear-cut QB1 and subsequently dealt with injuries to both O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. The Raiders went on to struggle through a 10-game losing streak in a season marred by quarterback uncertainty and offensive line struggles.

Those roster issues were at times exacerbated by Pierce's decision-making, like the timeout miscues that contributed to a Week 8 loss to the Chiefs in the middle of the losing streak.

When asked what he thought he could improve going forward, Pierce said during Monday's press conference that he needs "to go with his gut."

"I did that a lot, I was better at that last year," Pierce said (12:00 mark.) "This year I didn't do what I wanted to do as much as I wanted to do it."

When asked if there was a reason behind that reluctance to act, Pierce answered, "No. Just lessons learned."

Davis said throughout the season that Pierce is still learning how to succeed as a head coach. Possibly with the input of new minority owner Tom Brady, who will reportedly have a say in team operations going forward, Davis will now decide whether to give Pierce more time to learn or to start fresh ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce wasn't interested in talking about his job status after Sunday's season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

When asked if he believed he deserved another opportunity to coach the Raiders, Pierce responded, "No comment."

The end of Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce’s post game press conference following a loss to the Chargers. His 2nd no comment during the presser on his coaching status heading into the offseason. #vegas #raiders #raidernation pic.twitter.com/SR3e7yPLHE

— Mick Akers (@mickakers) January 6, 2025

Pierce was also asked if he had any "clarity" on whether he would be returning in 2025, to which he also responded "no comment."

The Raiders entered Sunday hoping to end a disappointing campaign on a three-game win streak but were unable to contain Justin Herbert in a 34-20 defeat by the Chargers.

The team will finish Pierce's first full season as head coach with a 4-13 record after both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II struggled with injuries and consistency.

But the Raiders' future, both at head coach and quarterback, has been complicated by a late-season surge.

O'Connell's best two games of the campaign came in Weeks 16 and 17, when he passed for 499 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.

But neither of those opponents were playoff contenders, while the Chargers had motivation to win for a better seed in the AFC.

The Raiders' struggles on both offense and defense against a postseason team dampened the enthusiasm sparked by the two-game surge. Las Vegas is now set to enter the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 6 pick, a question mark at the quarterback position and no clear path back to contention.

The New England Patriots announced the firing of first-year head coach Jerod Mayo just over an hour after the team's draft position was spoiled with a Week 18 victory. Las Vegas fans will now wait to see if the Raiders franchise follow that example after a disappointing regular-season finale of their own.

If Pierce is fired, Tom Brady could have a say in who replaces him. The Athletic's Dianna Russini has been reporting throughout the season that the newly-instated Raiders minority owner is expected to have a say in the franchise's next head coaching hire.

After falling to 4-13 to end the 2024 campaign, the Las Vegas Raiders are facing questions about the future of head coach Antonio Pierce.

The Raiders suffered a 34-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday's regular-season finale, destroying any amount of positivity that was building from their back-to-back wins in the previous two weeks. Las Vegas once had a 10-game losing streak and was in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but the team will instead be picking at No. 6.

Pierce was in his first season as the full-time head coach after taking over on an interim basis midway through the 2023 campaign. After it initially looked like he was a galvanizing force who changed the attitude of the team, the Raiders regressed in a big way this year.

Fans understandably debated whether Pierce should return as head coach after Las Vegas' disappointing end to the season:

With Jerod Mayo going one-and-done as Patriots HC after a 4-13 finish, #RaiderNation is left to wonder if Antonio Pierce – another former Super Bowl champion LB – could see the same fate entering Black Monday.

After a 10-game skid, the #Raiders have won two straight and will… pic.twitter.com/M6yZ6IXk5Y

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) January 5, 2025

The Patriots didn’t waste any time firing Jerod Mayo. They know who they want.

How long will it take for the #Raiders to make a decision on Antonio Pierce?

— Raiders Beat (@RaidersBeat) January 6, 2025

Mark needs to wake up. Our entire division is in the playoffs. And we are picking 6th overall.

Antonio Pierce needs to go.

— JT (@CondorSZN) January 6, 2025

If Patriots can fire Jerrod Mayo, then why can't we fire Antonio Pierce?

— JT (@CondorSZN) January 5, 2025

https://twitter.com/Lakeshow4Life9/status/1876055121911767376

10 game losing streak
0-6 in division
Hiring Getsy as OC
Signing Minshew and starting him

This would get every coach fired, Antonio Pierce is no different he’s gotta go

— MVP (@sparks1404) January 6, 2025

Me if Antonio Pierce is back#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/98N4NzgZ1A

— La Sports Fan For Life (@RaiderMatt5204) January 6, 2025

The New England Patriots already set a precedent by firing first-year head coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday, so the Raiders could choose to follow suit and move on from Pierce.

With Black Monday quickly approaching, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pierce among those in need of a new job. Las Vegas will certainly evaluate its options before determining the best course for the future of the franchise.