The Las Vegas Raiders are at a pivotal crossroads - again. With a head coaching vacancy and the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, the franchise is staring down a decision that could shape its future for years to come. All signs point to the Raiders targeting quarterback Fernando Mendoza with that top selection, and whoever takes over as head coach will be tasked with one of the most important jobs in football: developing a rookie signal-caller into a franchise cornerstone.
General manager John Spytek is leaving no stone unturned in the search. And he has to - the Raiders have made just two playoff appearances since their Super Bowl run in 2002.
That kind of drought doesn’t just speak to bad luck; it speaks to instability at the top. Spytek knows this hire has to be the right one.
The next head coach won’t just be calling plays - they’ll be laying the foundation for a team desperate to find its identity.
And into that mix steps a familiar face: Derek Carr.
Yes, that Derek Carr. The longtime Raiders quarterback who spent nine roller-coaster seasons in Silver and Black.
The same Carr who led the team to both of those rare playoff appearances, only to see his tenure end with a benching and eventual release in 2022. After two final seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Carr has officially retired from playing.
But apparently, he’s not done with football - or the Raiders.
In a recent episode of his Home Grown podcast, Carr made it known: he wants to be the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
"I'm telling you right now. I know who (the next head coach) should be," Carr said.
"I would love to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Can I get an interview?"
He was half-joking, half-serious - but make no mistake, the passion was real. Carr even joked about naming his brother David, a former No. 1 pick himself, as the team’s emergency quarterback.
"Dave's getting in on a tush push because I want to see if his hip really will break," Carr laughed. "You don't understand how much I love the Silver and Black. I don't think I'm going to get a chance."
Now, let’s be clear: Carr has never coached at any level - not as a coordinator, not as a position coach, not even as a quality control assistant. Since retiring, he’s stepped into the media world, not the coaching ranks. So while his love for the franchise is undeniable, handing him the keys to the locker room would be a massive leap.
The Raiders have already shown a willingness to consider unconventional candidates in their coaching search, but Carr would be the most outside-the-box option of all. And while his name carries weight in the building and among the fanbase - for better or worse - the front office knows they can’t afford to gamble on inexperience right now. Not with a top draft pick and a young quarterback likely coming in.
There is precedent for a former quarterback taking over and succeeding. Tom Flores, who won two Super Bowls as Raiders head coach, was once a quarterback himself.
But Flores spent years as an assistant under John Madden before taking the helm. If Carr is serious about coaching, following that kind of path would be the logical next step - cutting his teeth as a position coach or assistant before stepping into the spotlight.
Whether the Raiders would be open to bringing Carr onto a future staff remains to be seen. But what’s clear is that this hire - whoever it ends up being - will define the next era of Raiders football. With a new quarterback likely on the way and a fanbase starving for relevance, Las Vegas has a chance to reset the narrative.
And while Derek Carr might not be the one leading the charge from the sidelines, his continued connection to the franchise is a reminder of how deep the roots run - and how badly this team needs to get it right this time.