The Las Vegas Raiders coaching search to replace Josh McDaniels is ongoing, but interim coach Antonio Pierce has a strong chance to retain the role in 2024. As Pierce builds his case for the full-time gig, however, many around the NFL are already talking about the Raiders’ vacancy.
While the opening in Las Vegas isn’t the most appealing of the NFL head-coaching vacancies, it does offer its positives. There is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and half the games are played in one of the nicest stadiums in the NFL. With the right quarterback and leadership, the Raiders’ organization could be turned around fairly quickly in 2024.
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Pierce certainly meets the leadership qualifications. He immediately won over support from the locker room, is now backed by the fans and there is a growing contingent of analysts and media personalities who believe he should be the Raiders’ head coach in 2024.
However, the Raiders’ offense has continued to struggle since McDaniels’ departure with Pierce’s appointed offensive coaches doing little to improve things. It raises questions about the future and whether or not Las Vegas might want an offensive-minded coach. It’s one of the reasons an NFL executive believes there’s a better option out there for team owner Mark Davis.
One NFL executive speaking about the head-coaching vacancies around the league told Mike Sando of The Athletic that he believes Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh would “jell nicely” with the Raiders’ brand and help them moving forward.
If Las Vegas wants an offensive-minded coach who is a quarterback whisperer, Harbaugh is the guy. He helped Colin Kaepernick become one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, mentored Andrew Luck at Stanford and has overseen the development of J.J. McCarthy at Michigan.
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Harbaugh also brings a lot of other appealing qualities to the table. Hard-nosed and aggressive football is what Raiders fans grew up watching and loving. Harbaugh brought that to San Francisco, leading them to a Super Bowl, and that same mentality has made Michigan a perennial College Football Playoff contender.
Pierce still has significant support in the locker room and has proven to be a viable candidate for the full-time gig, but Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in all of football. If Las Vegas could pair him with a general manager he trusts, it’s possible Harbaugh is coaching the Raiders in 2024.