With there being eight head coaching openings in the NFL right now, the Las Vegas Raiders are going to have to look at a lot of candidates to ensure they find one they like. A major curveball got thrown into the offseason when the Baltimore Ravens decided to part ways with longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
He immediately became the most sought-after name on the coaching market. At first, it didn’t seem like he’d be interested in the Raiders, but that might not be the case. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh has actually held “extensive calls” with several teams, including the Raiders.
Now, that doesn’t mean the Raiders will get an interview with the Super Bowl-winning head coach, but he at least heard them out. There’s at least a chance that Tom Brady was a part of that call, and he can be persuasive.
If anybody can convince Harbaugh to come in for an interview, it would be Brady. It remains to be seen if he’ll realistically consider the Raiders. The New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons seem like the early favorites. It’s possible that this process can take some time, but unless the Raiders get an in-person interview soon, it’s unlikely he’ll be in the running for their head coaching job.
Do Raiders Want to Hire Harbaugh?
It makes a lot of sense for the Raiders to at least have a call with Harbaugh. Even if he’s not atop their wish list, he’s got a good enough track to at least see where his head is at.
For the Raiders, hiring Harbaugh is close to a no-brainer. He has a 180-113 record as a head coach and has won a Super Bowl. Though he’s a bit older at 63, he’s over a decade younger than Pete Carroll.
At the same time, the Raiders might rather go after a young coach who can call plays. Harbaugh clearly knows what he’s doing, but it’s hard to imagine the Raiders want to go after another older and expensive head coach. The way things ended for Harbaugh in Baltimore is very similar to how things ended for Carroll in Seattle. They are different coaches, but the Raiders are going to have to do a lot to convince Harbaugh to come to Las Vegas, and they might not be high enough on him to want to go through that process.
Jesse Minter Is Now in the Mix
One name that was getting linked to the Raiders before Carroll was fired was Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Though the Chargers lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Minter’s defense only gave up 16 points to a strong New England Patriots offense.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have requested Minter for an interview. Many want to see Las Vegas hire a coach with an offensive background, but Minter might be too good to pass up.
The Chargers aren’t loaded with high-end defensive talent, but they still finished top-five in yards allowed. He’s going to be considered a real candidate for the Raiders head coaching job this offseason.
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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