The dream of landing former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the Las Vegas Raiders’ next head coach is now dead after the Chicago Bears hired the talented play-caller for their vacancy.
Raiders fans went into the head-coach search with zero expectations of hiring him, but reports consistently said that Las Vegas had a strong chance to land Johnson, which got their hopes up and made the failed pursuit sting.
With Johnson crossed off the list in Vegas, the Raiders have to move to an alternate plan at head coach which, according to Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic, might be former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
“Now, the Raiders have to turn to their alternatives, and former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is believed to be the Raiders’ top option, according to league sources,” they wrote.
Raiders head coach candidates
The Raiders have either interviewed or requested to interview several candidates aside from Carroll. Here’s a look at the full list, per Reed and Tafur:
- Former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll
- Former New York Jets HC Robert Saleh
- Former Washington Commanders HC Ron Rivera
- Kansas City Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo
- Denver Broncos DC Vance Joseph
- Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn
- Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken (requested)
Of course, it’s very possible the Raiders will add to this list in the coming days, but this is what we have to work with for now.
Of the candidates on that list, Monken is the only one the Raiders haven’t spoken to. They requested an interview with the Ravens offensive coordinator, but there hasn’t been any news of an actual interview taking place.
Glenn looks like he’ll take either the Saints or Jets jobs, so we wouldn’t expect him to land in Vegas. Spagnuolo can’t do an in-person interview until after the AFC title game, and can’t be hired until after the Super Bowl if the Chiefs make it that far. Carroll, Saleh, Rivera and Joseph are free to do whatever, whenever.
The only real intriguing names on that list are Monken and Glenn, and with our preference being an offensive-minded coach, we’d prefer the former. However, there hasn’t been any indication Monken is interested. Glenn would be a strong hire, also, but as we said, it looks like Saints or Jets for him.
MORE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS NEWS
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