Oakland Raiders coaching search sees Mike Holmgren added to potential list

Nov 18, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Mike Holmgren talks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before the game at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

If there is a head coach that could be available for the vacant Oakland Raiders head coaching role there is a chance that there has been a report surrounding that coach’s potential interest leaking out to the media. That list includes coaches who have been retired for years, coaches still with successful teams in the NFL and of course coaches in the college ranks as the biggest story in Oakland has been getting a lot of traction amongst league insiders.

Sunday’s biggest report came from ProFootballTalk, who reported that multiple sources had confirmed that former Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Holmgren visited the team facilities recently as a potential candidate for the job should the 66 year old decide to come out of retirement.

From PFT:

"Back in July, former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren sounded like a guy who’d be interested in coaching again at age 66.  Mark Davis ultimately could be interested in Holmgren coaching the team Davis owns.Strong and persistent chatter has emerged in recent days linking Holmgren to the job.  It’s a fairly obvious connection, given that former Holmgren lieutenant Reggie McKenzie serves as the General Manager in Oakland.  McKenzie, who could be the next guy out the door in Oakland, has said he’ll hire the next coach.  If McKenzie does, Holmgren could be the optimal Hail Mary option, especially since Holmgren likely would not be inclined to replace McKenzie — unlike other big-name coaches Davis may pursue.While unconfirmed, multiple sources tell PFT that Holmgren visited the team’s facility this week.  Hardly a precursor to getting the job, it could be an indication that Holmgren is in the mix, if Davis ultimately can’t catch a coach who cachè born more recently than 1948."

Holmgren has the best head coaching record of the names the Raiders have been connected to as potential “superstar” hires, but the problem as with Jon Gruden will be getting him out of retirement in a career move that will risk his legacy. Successful former head coaches like Holmgren know that if everything goes wrong if they return people will remember their careers far less fondly, add that to the long hours of running an NFL team and you can see why it is unlikely a 66 year old with two successful NFL stops already would be interested in coming back to the game at a head coaching level.