Has Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia done enough to keep his job?

The Raiders need a permanent head coach, but what if they already have the answer in the man who has led them to the playoffs this season?

The Las Vegas Raiders have clinched a playoff spot after experiencing one of the most turbulent seasons in team history. It could be argued that the Silver and Black had never seen a season with so much drama that resulted in a trip to the postseason.

In fact, the Raiders in the 21st century have definitely had their share of issues, but it usually never translates into the win column. 2021 changed all that, and despite rumors of possible head coaching candidates, one man might’ve already won the job.

Back in October of 2021, then-Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was at the center of allegations stemming from an e-mail scandal. Though he wasn’t the reason for the original investigation, Gruden ended up resigning from his position, and with that, Rich Bisaccia stepped in.

Considering the shoes that Bisaccia had to fill at that time, it’s easy to see why so many would’ve crumbled under the pressure of leading a squad that had started 3-2.

Before this season, Bisaccia had been Gruden’s right-hand man on the field. He was the assistant head coach and in charge of special teams. With so much attention paid to the offensive and defensive coordinators, Bisaccia flew under the radar for most of Gruden’s tenure. Unbeknownst to those of us on the outside, the assistant was winning over the players the whole time.

A no-nonsense player’s coach that has come into his own while keeping this team together in the face of adversity.

Has Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia done enough to keep his job?

Coach of the Year? Really?

Yes, you read that right. All things considered, what Bisaccia has accomplished this year should not be so easily overlooked. By comparison, let’s say, what Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel did in 2021, Bisaccia led the Raiders to the fifth seed in the playoffs with one of the hardest schedules in the NFL.

By comparison, Vrabel’s team had one of the easiest. Perspective, folks. Yes, his stint has been a short one, but he already has the team’s leading winning percentage since 1988, at .583, which is tops for the Raiders.

However, Bisaccia’s no-nonsense approach early on also worked to his detriment. In fact, fans quickly grew tired of it, many felt that he was in over his head. His pressers didn’t help either. Still, he’s grown since those early games, and he’s not coaching scared anymore.

There’s a reason he’s the first coach since 1961 to make the playoffs after taking the job midseason. In the face of so much tragedy and adversity, Bisaccia has truly fostered a team culture, one where “we have a team that cares for each other,” as the coach put it recently.

This team could’ve fallen apart following what happened to Henry Ruggs III. The team appeared lifeless on the field. You could even see it for yourself in Derek Carr’s body language in the games following Ruggs’ arrest. It hit them hard, but Bisaccia rode it out with this team, and now we see one with fortitude that doesn’t give up.

Sunday’s grind of an overtime contest is evidence of that.

Has Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia done enough to keep his job?

Being a Rockstar doesn’t always equal wins

The last time the Raiders made a big splash with a coaching hire was with Gruden. We all recall the frustration from fans as the team was rebuilt in Gruden’s desired model. That isn’t to say that a new coach would scrap this current roster.

In fact, that would be asinine. This is a playoff-caliber team that overcame so much this past season that, if anything, it’s closer to being a contender than it ever has been, at least since 2002. The point being that sometimes you don’t have to look far for the answer; sometimes it’s slapping you right in the face.

The Raiders’ four straight wins heading into Saturday’s clash with the Cincinnati Bengals should not be glazed over. Last Sunday’s win over the Chargers will likely live on in Raiders’ lore for years, but imagine leading Las Vegas to a playoff win. It doesn’t take a genius to see how much the players love playing for Bisaccia, so he has the locker room.

The man oozes what all of us would call “calmness,” and that would serve him well considering the team he would be in charge of in that city. The fact that the team has persevered in the face of so much adversity this year can be seen on the field. The aforementioned wins all came within a margin of 12 points total. Don’t forget that three of those wins came in dramatic fashion thanks to kicks from Daniel Carlson. Yeah, coach Bisaccia has the screws on this team screwed on tight.

Now imagine what he could do with a full offseason and another solid draft class.