The Las Vegas Raiders are staring down another turbulent offseason, and the writing on the wall suggests Pete Carroll’s time in silver and black could be coming to an unceremonious end. With just two wins on the season and a franchise mired in dysfunction, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Raiders don’t make a change at the top-if not before the season ends, then certainly once it does.
If that change comes, don’t be surprised if Robert Saleh’s name resurfaces as a top candidate for the job. The current San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator has already been on Vegas’ radar. Reports indicate the Raiders pursued Saleh last offseason, offering him a unique role that would’ve made him a highly paid defensive coordinator with the promise of eventually succeeding Carroll.
Saleh passed on that opportunity, opting instead to return to the Bay Area after his stint as head coach of the New York Jets. That decision now looks even more telling given the Raiders’ chaotic 2025 campaign, which included the midseason firing of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly-another former Niners head coach-after a string of uninspired performances and internal turmoil.
Now, with the Raiders seemingly spiraling toward another coaching reset, the question isn’t just whether they’ll pursue Saleh again-it’s whether he’d even want the job.
Saleh is clearly aiming to get back into the head-coaching mix. His time with the Jets didn’t end the way he-or anyone-had hoped, but it’s also fair to say he wasn’t the root of the problem in New York.
That said, in today’s NFL, second chances for head coaches are tough enough to come by. A third opportunity?
That’s rare air, and Saleh knows it. Just look at Josh McDaniels, now the offensive coordinator in New England, likely stuck there after flameouts in both Denver and Vegas.
That’s why Saleh has to be strategic. Taking the wrong job could slam the door shut on his head-coaching career for good. And when it comes to the Raiders, the red flags are hard to ignore.
Since 2002, Las Vegas has cycled through 12 head coaches-not even counting interim fill-ins. That’s a new coach roughly every two years, a carousel of instability that’s become a defining trait of the franchise. It’s not just about losing seasons-it’s about a lack of continuity, direction, and trust in the process.
Even with a lucrative, long-term deal on the table, Saleh would have to weigh the risk of stepping into a situation where patience is short and expectations are often unrealistic. The Raiders have a passionate fanbase and a storied history, but they’ve also struggled to find a consistent identity in the post-Al Davis era. For a coach looking to build something sustainable, that’s a tough environment to walk into.
Saleh is a respected defensive mind, a leader who commands the locker room and brings energy to a sideline. He’ll get another shot-maybe even several interviews this offseason.
But if Vegas comes calling again, Saleh would be wise to consider not just the offer itself, but the environment he’d be stepping into. Because in the NFL, the right job can revive your career-but the wrong one can end it.