On Halloween night, the Las Vegas Raiders finally put an end to one of the worst eras in terms of the head coaching position in team history. After only 25 games at the helm of the franchise, Josh McDaniels was fired by team owner Mark Davis, ending what turned out to be a huge mistake for the Raiders brass.
Raider nation has fervently been united in calling for the head of Josh McDaniels on a Silver and Black platter since he started. His list of embarrassments were fireable enough and the long overdue axing is abrupt, but needed.
With a new hope to lead this franchise to the promised land, Antonio Pierce will get the first shot to earn the gig as a mainstay. Pierce was outstanding as a player and is a leader of men, so that should unite this locker room in a way that McDaniels never could.
Below are a list of three college coaches who could make the leap to the NFL if given the opportunity and the Raiders decide to go that unlikely path.
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 college coaches who could take over for Josh McDaniels
Could the Raiders lure Kirby Smart from Georgia?
What else is there to do at the college level for Kirby Smart? He is on pace for a three-peat and currently runs the sport. He's done it with rare specimens on defense and savvy veteran leadership on offense. He can recruit at the highest level in the nation's finest conference. Jumping to the NFL should be his next destination to advance his coaching career and prove he can do it at the center stage.
He did sign a 10 year deal that made him the richest coach in college a year ago. It's not impossible to pry him away from Georgia, but it most certainly wouldn't be cheap. Giving him full control of the organization is the only way to go in that situation. The likelihood of that happening are slim though.
He is on top of the world and there is no end in sight with his endless pursuit of five star talent to stack the Bulldogs yearly. Smart has it made in the shade at Georgia, so why would he want to leave for such a dysfunctional organization?
A Jim Harbaugh reunion with the Raiders?
Three years ago Harbaugh was on his way out of Ann Arbor after going 2-4 through a covid-littered season, but now he could leave because of his own intentions. His enemies are out to get him since he turned Michigan into a powerhouse again. A new contract has been discussed, but it may be too late as this could be the last straw that pushes him off the deep end. Could he be willing to leave his beloved alma mater and chase a ring again?
Harbaugh hasn't been in the league for a decade and would be a retread hire, but he's clearly the most proven here. He did get San Francisco to the Super Bowl and has won at every stop that the road has taken him. The only knock against him would be that he rubs people the wrong way with his quirkiness and the fact that he wears out his welcome.
He'll bring a smash-mouth, run first offense to Vegas with a defense that doesn't break. Plus he has unfinished business in the pros that he has yet to accomplish. Harbaugh would be a grand slam hire by Mark Davis, especially if he wins the playoff national championship in January. Out of the three, he's the most realistic one, but Michigan is reportedly on the verge of giving him a lifetime contract extension.
A surprising choice for the Raiders from Oregon
Raider fans will disagree with this choice, but Lanning is building a bully in his young career. He's 17-4 at Oregon and has used the transfer portal wisely. He's got his team in the playoff hunt, especially if they win out and claim the Pac-12 championship. He was the defensive coordinator on Georgia's 2021 national title squad.
You can argue that the Ducks should be undefeated in 2023, despite losing a nail-biter to Washington a few weeks back. He's a rising star in the coaching tree. He may not be ready for the bright lights of the NFL, which is what most would say. Lanning did sign an extension to keep him through 2028, but getting to coach in the NFL has to be a logical goal for him.
Lanning could remind some of when Al Davis hired Lane Kiffin. That relationship didn't last long. Mark seems to have more patience then his father did, Josh McDaniels is a prime example of that. If Mark went this route and sends everyone into a frenzy, then he would have to surround Lanning with experienced coordinators and position coaches.