It is the Patriots’ offensive coordinator’s second time running a team
The Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly found their successor to Jon Gruden — and he’s an offensive guru as well.
Keeping in step with the franchise’s storied offensive history, Raiders owner Mark Davis has tapped New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as the team’s next head coach, according to ESPN.
Raiders are expected to hire former Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels as their head coach, per sources. Two sides still are finalizing the contract, but McDaniels is their man.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2022
The deals for new #Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and new #Raiders GM Dave Ziegler are done and agreed upon, sources say. Owner Mark Davis swings big and lands his top targets.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2022
McDaniels comes to Las Vegas with New England’s Dave Ziegler, who will replace Mike Mayock as the Raiders’ general manager. McDaniels and Ziegler have appeared to be a package deal all along. Along with their New England connection, they also went to John Carroll University together.
We have hired Dave Ziegler as General Manager. pic.twitter.com/CNmEo7oPa3
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 30, 2022
Las Vegas is yet another NFL team attempting to replicate New England’s massive success. So far, it hasn’t had much success elsewhere. But Davis is clearly a believer in the McDaniels-Ziegler combination. The Raiders interviewed several general manager and coaching candidates before coming to this conclusion.
McDaniels, 45, is known as a great offensive mind, play caller and quarterback instructor. However, he delivered poor results as the head coach of the Denver Broncos when he was hired there in 2009 at the age of 32. He went just 11-17 in Denver. His tenure there was sullied by poor relationships with players and a scandal that involved the Broncos videotaping a San Francisco practice in London prior to a game. McDaniels also left the Colts at the alter in 2018.
But now he is back in the saddle as a head coach with a familiar face as the Raiders start a new era.