The Las Vegas Raiders came into the 2025 season hoping a new era would finally bring some long-overdue stability. Instead, what unfolded was a 3-14 campaign marked by head-scratching decisions, personnel misfires, and a sense of dysfunction that seemed to seep into every corner of the organization. Pete Carroll, brought in to bring championship pedigree and structure, ended up overseeing a season that raised more questions than answers.
Let’s take a deeper look at five defining storylines that shaped - and ultimately unraveled - the Raiders’ 2025 season.
1. The Christian Wilkins Saga: A $110 Million Mystery
When the Raiders handed Christian Wilkins a massive $110 million contract, the expectation was clear: he’d anchor the defensive front and bring a disruptive presence to the trenches. Instead, he didn’t even make it to Week 1. Wilkins was cut during the offseason under circumstances that remain murky, and the silence from both sides only fueled speculation.
What we do know is this: no other team picked him up, which suggests there may have been more going on behind the scenes. Still, for the Raiders to invest that heavily in a player and cut ties before he ever took the field - without a clear explanation - was a gut punch to the roster and a red flag for the locker room. It set the tone for a season where clarity and cohesion were hard to come by.
2. The Jackson Powers-Johnson Position Switch That Backfired
When Brennan Carroll decided to move Jackson Powers-Johnson out of the center spot, fans were baffled - and they weren’t alone. Powers-Johnson had been viewed as a cornerstone for the offensive line, a young player with the skillset and mentality to lead the unit from the middle. Shifting him away from his natural position disrupted the entire line’s chemistry, and it showed on Sundays.
The offensive line struggled all year, and the decision to tinker with one of its most promising pieces became a symbol of the coaching staff’s mismanagement. Brennan Carroll’s role in the move drew criticism, but so did Pete Carroll’s unwillingness to step in and correct it. For a team that desperately needed stability in the trenches, this was a self-inflicted wound.
3. Amari Cooper's Brief Return - and Quicker Exit
Amari Cooper’s return to Las Vegas was supposed to be a feel-good story, a chance for the veteran receiver to provide leadership and production on a team in need of both. Instead, it turned into a cameo. Cooper’s stint with the Raiders was short-lived, and while details remain limited, the writing was on the wall: something didn’t sit right.
Cooper’s quiet exit echoed Michael Gallup’s decision the year before, and it painted a picture of a team that couldn’t convince established veterans to stick around. Whether it was the environment, the coaching, or the direction of the franchise, the message was clear - players weren’t buying in.
4. Germaine Pratt’s Quiet Departure, Loud Impact
Germaine Pratt was expected to be a key piece in the middle of the Raiders’ defense. Instead, he was gone before the season really got going. The team never offered much in the way of explanation, and Pratt went on to thrive with the Indianapolis Colts - the kind of mid-season turnaround that stings when you’re watching from the outside.
It wasn’t just the loss of a productive linebacker. It was the second time in a matter of months that the Raiders let a high-profile player walk without a clear plan or return.
For a front office led by John Spytek, it raised questions about asset management and internal communication. If there were issues behind the scenes, trading Pratt could have at least yielded something in return.
Instead, it was another subtraction from a roster already lacking depth.
5. Pete Carroll’s Seattle Reunion Tour
Perhaps the most frustrating trend of the season was Pete Carroll’s reliance on familiar faces from his Seahawks days. Bringing in players with past connections isn’t inherently a bad thing - coaches often lean on guys they trust. But in this case, it felt like Carroll was trying to recreate a version of the Legion of Boom era that no longer exists.
Several of the former Seahawks brought in were well past their prime, and their on-field impact didn’t justify their roster spots. More importantly, it signaled a reluctance to evolve.
The NFL moves fast, and the best coaches adapt with it. Carroll’s loyalty to players he once won with ended up being a liability, and it contributed to a team that looked stuck in the past while the rest of the league moved forward.
Final Thoughts
The Raiders didn’t just lose games in 2025 - they lost trust, direction, and momentum. What was supposed to be a fresh start under a proven leader became a cautionary tale in how quickly things can spiral when vision and execution don’t align.
There’s talent on this roster. There are pieces worth building around.
But this season made one thing clear: the Raiders need more than a coaching name or a splashy signing. They need a reset in culture, accountability, and decision-making - and they need it fast.