The Las Vegas Raiders are back in familiar territory - searching for a new head coach. After a rocky 3-14 season under Pete Carroll, the team has decided to move on once again, making this the third straight year they’ll enter a season with a new face leading the locker room. For a franchise that’s been desperate for stability, this is yet another reset.
Carroll was brought in ahead of the 2025 season to bring veteran leadership to a team that had just parted ways with Antonio Pierce. But the results never materialized. The Raiders finished dead last in the AFC West, and the experiment ended after just one year.
Now, Tom Brady - yes, that Tom Brady - is at the center of the search. As a minority owner, he’s made it clear what he wants: a winner.
“I think every team right now is going through their own process to try to figure out what best suits them,” Brady said. “And we want to deliver a winner in Las Vegas.
The fan base deserves it. And it's been a long time.
So, there's a lot of pieces of the puzzle you got to get right. But I'm certainly very excited that we're going to get things going in the right direction.”
That direction? Still very much up in the air. But a few names have already started to surface - and one of them is a familiar face.
Derek Carr Throws His Hat in the Ring
Retired quarterback Derek Carr has made it known: he wants a shot at the job. And he’s not being subtle about it.
"I'm telling you right now, I know who it should be," Carr said on his podcast, *Home Grown with David & Derek Carr. * "I would love to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Can I get an interview? ... I'd love to do it.
You don't understand how much I love the silver and black, bro."
It’s not just talk. Carr spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Raiders after being drafted 36th overall in 2014.
He racked up over 41,000 passing yards and 257 touchdowns before retiring in May 2025. He knows the franchise, the culture, the expectations - and the frustrations - better than almost anyone.
But loving the team and leading the team are two very different things. While Carr’s passion is undeniable, the Raiders may be looking for a more traditional candidate with coaching experience.
Jeff Hafley Drawing Interest
One name that’s gaining traction is Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. After two seasons in Green Bay, Hafley is reportedly on the radar for multiple head coaching vacancies - including in Las Vegas.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, both the Raiders and the Dolphins have submitted interview requests for Hafley. That brings the total number of teams interested in him to at least five.
Hafley helped guide the Packers to the playoffs this season, finishing second in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears. While Green Bay’s postseason run was short-lived - a 31-27 loss to the Bears in the wild-card round - Hafley’s unit showed enough promise to earn him serious consideration around the league.
For the Raiders, Hafley would represent a shift toward defensive-minded leadership - something they haven’t leaned into heavily in recent years. And with Brady involved in the decision-making, you can bet they’re looking for someone who can build a culture, not just call plays.
A Franchise Searching for Stability
It’s been a turbulent stretch for the Raiders. Since Jon Gruden’s departure, no head coach has lasted more than a season. The team has cycled through leadership, philosophies, and game plans - and the results have been predictably inconsistent.
Now, with Brady helping steer the ship, the hope is to finally land a coach who can bring long-term vision and accountability. Whether that’s a first-time head coach like Hafley, a franchise legend like Carr, or someone else entirely, one thing is clear: the Raiders can’t afford another misstep.
The fan base is hungry. The roster has pieces. And the clock is ticking.
Las Vegas needs more than a splashy hire - they need someone who can win.