In a season filled with putrid showings across the NFL, few teams were consistently as bad as the Raiders, who limped to a league-worst 2-15 record in 2025.
Pete Carroll, the man considered by many to be the architect of those toils, was summarily handed his walking papers on Monday, bringing an end to his Las Vegas tenure after just one miserable season.
Carroll is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in recent NFL history, having authored a Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Seahawks. Nevertheless, his first — and last — year in Sin City was one to forget. With a rebuild on the horizon and uncertainty abounding across Las Vegas’ underperforming roster, he was one of the Raiders’ first casualties. He isn’t expected to be the last.
With that, here’s what you need to know about Carroll’s dismissal, as well as potential candidates to take over for him on Las Vegas’ sideline.
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In a division teeming with stalwarts, it’s hard to imagine Las Vegas’ front office expected to be competing for a postseason berth in 2025. Nevertheless, there were hopes that Carroll would steer the Raiders to a better record than the 4-13 offering they served up under Antonio Pierce. After all, Las Vegas invested heavily in the offseason, adding both Carroll and Geno Smith, as well as first-round pick Ashton Jeanty.
Things went far from the plan in Sin City in 2025. The Raiders dropped 14 of their last 15 games, sacking two coordinators in the process. Chip Kelly, the side’s disgraced former offensive guru who was fired in November, is owed $12 million over the next two seasons. Smith was unceremoniously benched, while Las Vegas’ front office clashed with star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders’ torpidity paid off in the form of a first overall pick, a welcome reward for a forgettable campaign. Nevertheless, Las Vegas’ didn’t land much of a return on its investment. At 74 years old, Carroll didn’t appear much of an asset for impending rebuild the Raiders are expected to conduct. According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, he wasn’t Tom Brady’s first choice to stalk the sidelines upon Pierce’s dismissal.
As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero noted, Brady is close to Las Vegas’ general manager John Spytek, who used to play alongside the Raiders’ minority owner at Michigan. Brady is expected to feature prominently in Las Vegas’ next head-coaching search, with the expectation that the Raiders look for a long-term option capable of leading the side through a much-needed rebuild.
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Carroll’s dismissal creates a power vacuum of sorts on Las Vegas’ sideline. Still, there are a few figures expected to garner some interest in the days and weeks to come.
Kubiak’s name has swirled around the coaching carousel for the better part of a year, with the Seahawks offensive coordinator landing a handful of interviews during the 2025 offseason. He has done little to damage his credentials in the year since, helping craft one of the league’s most-effective attacks. With the Raiders in the market for a young quarterback, Kubiak could be seen as an ideal candidate.
The Broncos possess arguably the NFL’s best defense. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is a big reason why, having crafted schemes that propelled Denver to a top-two seed in the AFC. He interviewed with Las Vegas last offseason and, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “acquitted himself well with Las Vegas.” Joseph enjoyed a fairly unsuccessful spell as Broncos head coach in the late 2010s. But he has proven himself to be one of the league’s finest defensive minds in the years since. He’ll almost certainly be on the Raiders’ radar.
Much like Joseph, Saleh’s first stint as a head coach was unforgettable. But his plaudits as a defensive tactician are undeniable. The 49ers have remained a defensive juggernaut despite Nick Bosa’s and Fred Warner’s absence, with Saleh’s tactical adjustments earning rave reviews.
Saleh was one of many candidates to interview for Las Vegas’ opening last coaching cycle, and he performed well, per Fowler. He’s in line to earn another opportunity in a headset in due time. Perhaps it can happen in Sin City.
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Carroll is 74 years old. He celebrated his most recent birthday on Sept. 15.
Unsurprisingly, the veteran tactician was the league’s oldest coach during his time with the Raiders. With Carroll out of work, that honor will now be heaped on Chiefs taskmaster Andy Reid.
Carroll flaunts a 173-134-1 record across 19 seasons as an NFL head coach. Here’s a breakdown of his NFL coaching record up to now:
