Raiders clean house: McDaniels, Ziegler fired after Monday night debacle
Less than two seasons into their tenures and a day after a poor showing on the national TV stage of “Monday Night Football,” the Raiders have fired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler.
The team announced the firings late Tuesday.
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 1, 2023
The Raiders won just nine of their 25 games under the two, who arrived from New England in January 2022. That includes a 6-11 finish last season and the 3-5 start to this season.
“After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave,” owner Mark Davis said in a statement. “I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best.”
Raiders interim coach
Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce will take over as interim coach. Champ Kelly, the Raiders’ assistant general manager, will replace Ziegler at least for the rest of the season.
The Raiders had trouble playing consistent football under McDaniels, and they have been one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL this season.
McDaniels was hired with the hope that his rich offensive pedigree as the longtime coordinator with the Patriots would transition to Las Vegas.
But it hasn’t been the case, as the offense regressed under McDaniels’ stewardship despite having one of the best wide receivers in the game in Davante Adams and the 2022 NFL rushing leader in Josh Jacobs.
QB change coming?
McDaniels has also failed to get much out of the quarterback position, with Derek Carr’s play languishing down the stretch last season before he was benched and later released. His replacement, Jimmy Garoppolo, ranks as one of the worst quarterbacks in the league this season.
With McDaniels no longer in the picture, the door opens for rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell to replace Garoppolo as the starter. A person with knowledge of the situation indicated that the Raiders are leaning in that direction.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
