Raiders Fire Pete Carroll After 3-14 Collapse, Launch Third Coaching Search in Three Years

The End of an Era in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders pulled the plug on the Pete Carroll experiment late Monday night, ending the 73-year-old coach’s brief and turbulent stint after a franchise-worst 3-14 season that left the locker room fractured and fans chanting for change.

A Season That Unraveled Fast

Carroll, hired only last January to bring "grit and championship DNA," never found traction. The Raiders opened with seven straight losses, benched two starting quarterbacks, and surrendered a league-high 478 points. By December, home crowds at Allegiant Stadium had dwindled to mid-60-thousands, the lowest since the building opened in 2020.

“We thank Pete for his integrity and energy, but results matter,” owner Mark Davis said in a two-paragraph statement released at 11:07 p.m. PT. “It’s time for a new voice.”

Third Coaching Search in Three Years

The Raiders now face the unenviable task of hunting for their fourth head coach since 2022. Front-office sources tell this outlet that GM Tom Telesco will lead the search, with a mandate to find an offensive-minded leader capable of developing rookie quarterback Aidan Kahlil, the No. 7 overall pick who flashed but finished with 14 interceptions in nine starts.

Hot Board Emerges

Early names circulating inside league circles include:

• Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator — the presumed favorite.
• Bobby Slowik, Texans OC — credited with jump-starting C.J. Stroud.
• Patrick Graham, Raiders DC — respected inside the building but viewed as a long shot.

Players React

Star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby posted a cryptic "new chapter" on Instagram within minutes of the news, while veteran receiver Davante Adams texted reporters, "Change was needed. Let’s move forward."

What’s Next

The Raiders own the No. 2 overall draft pick and an estimated $62 million in salary-cap space, assets that could entice an elite coaching candidate. Yet the franchise’s reputation for rapid turnover remains a hurdle.

“Nobody wants to be a one-and-done,” a high-profile agent told ESPN on condition of anonymity. “Coaches want roster control and patience. Vegas has shown neither.”

Team officials hope to conduct a streamlined search with the aim of announcing a new coach ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine in late February.