The Las Vegas Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on Sunday night, here are five potential replacements for him in 2020.
The Paul Guenther era in Las Vegas/Oakland is finally over, as the Las Vegas Raiders fired the defensive coordinator after a little under three years on the job. Guenther joined the Raiders from the Bengals in 2018 after spending 12 years in Cincinnati in a number of different roles.
Guenther worked his way up the food chain in Cincinnati from a general assistant role, up to assistant linebackers coach, then linebackers coach, and finally up to defensive coordinator from 2014-17. During his tenure, the Bengals defense’s average ranking was 17th but they excelled in 2015, finishing second overall in points allowed and eleventh in yards.
When the Raiders made the hire in 2018, Guenther looked to be rising in the coordinator ranks and likely took the job excited about the prospect of leading a defense built around a potential all-time great in Khalil Mack. We all know the story of what happened next and the Raiders defense bottomed out in 2018.
Unfortunately for Guenther and Raider Nation, there has been little improvement since that moment even with the substantial investment on that side of the ball. The Raiders 32nd in points allowed in 2018, 24th in 2019 showing some improvement, but have dropped back down to the bottom of the NFL in 2020.
Because of these struggles the Raiders decided it was time to try something and someone new to see if they can bring out the best in the high-priced free agents and high draft picks that they have brought in on defense. Let’s take a look at who are the possible candidates for the defensive coordinator job in 2021 and beyond.