When the Raiders signed up for a Patriot Way blueprint, they added Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler together. Mark Davis‘ upcoming HC-GM search will likely feature a different approach.
Indicating he would want his GM hire to have some say in the team’s HC choice, Davis said the Raiders will plan to hire their top front office exec first, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. While the owner stopped short of ensuring that is how the Raiders’ next round of searches will unfold, he said that will be the likely play (subscription required).
Davis cut the cord on the Ziegler-McDaniels partnership in the middle of the night, canning both hours after the Halloween trade deadline. Champ Kelly and Antonio Pierce are serving in those roles for the time being. It should be expected, barring a freefall over this season’s final three games, both will have a shot to see their interim tags removed. Kelly is viewed around the league as a legitimate candidate to keep his job, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.
A well-regarded exec, Kelly interviewed for the job Ziegler received in 2022. We heard just after the firings that Kelly had support to ascend to the full-time role. Unlike Pierce, Kelly has a long track record as an NFL staffer. After a five-year tenure as the Broncos’ assistant pro personnel director — a run he began during McDaniels’ infamous Denver tenure — Kelly spent six years with the Bears, finishing out his run as their assistant director of player personnel.
The Raiders hired Kelly, 43, to be their assistant GM shortly after going with Ziegler to lead the way, though SI.com’s Albert Breer notes fellow 2022 interviewee Ed Dodds impressed as well. Dodds has been the Colts’ assistant GM for the past seven years. Dodds has been a popular name on the GM interview circuit in recent years, though he did not interview for any positions in 2023.
Although Pierce and Kelly are both Black, the Raiders will still need to follow Rooney Rule procedures during their search. Two external minority candidates or women are required to interview for teams’ HC and GM positions. At the league meetings last week, buzz pointed to Davis being more likely to retain Kelly than Pierce, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. This makes sense given Pierce’s limited experience. The ex-Giants Super Bowl-winning linebacker has no NFL coaching experience prior to his Raiders gig, separating this situation from Davis’ call to pass on longtime ST coordinator-turned-interim HC Rich Bisaccia in 2022.
Recently, Pierce had his former Giants coach (Tom Coughlin), along with Adam Gase and ex-Arizona State coworker Marvin Lewis, in the building. The trio sat in on Raiders meetings and offered input on all team aspects, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, with Pierce attempting to gain intel from experienced HCs as he attempts to make a case for the full-time job. Coughlin and Lewis have counseled Pierce since the Raiders named him interim HC, Rapoport adds. No interim head coach has ascended to a full-time position since the Jaguars removed Doug Marrone‘s interim tag in 2017.
Regardless of the Raiders’ decisions regarding their interim staffers, a third power broker may enter the equation soon. Citing Hall of Famer Ron Wolf‘s impact as a scout during his 11-year tenure with the Raiders — ahead of a successful run as the Packers’ GM — Davis alluded to a non-GM hire having a significant say in the next Raider regime.
“I think that the triumvirate in that regard worked very well together,” Mark Davis said (via Reed) of his father, Wolf and the Raiders’ HCs. “People think that their egos were all out there, but there was no ego at all. It was about who could they give to the coach to help him do his job and be great. Today, I don’t know.
“Because I don’t have that ability that my father had in judging talent. So, that’s a missing piece to the puzzle, so to speak, is a solid football mind that isn’t the GM or the head coach. And I think that’s a piece that’s probably going to be necessary somewhere down the line is bringing in somebody that understands that football that’s above the day-to-day work.”
The Raiders hiring a high-level football operations exec would stand to limit the GM’s power. This was the case when the Jaguars hired Coughlin to work above Dave Caldwell in 2017, and the Dolphins used this setup with Mike Tannenbaum and GM Chris Grier from 2016-18. Mark Davis, however, has struggled throughout his ownership tenure. Eight HCs have stopped through Oakland and Las Vegas since Al Davis‘ death in 2011; the team has two winning seasons since its Super Bowl XXXVII appearance 21 years ago. Bringing in an additional voice would be an interesting effort on the owner’s part. Although the GM and HC hires will generate the most attention, a third pillar coming in would represent a significant development.
Given McDaniels’ experience, it was assumed the three-time Super Bowl-winning OC was running the show during his brief Las Vegas tenure. Ziegler, however, was believed to have the final say on the 53-man roster. Davis confirmed this was the case but stopped short of indicating Ziegler wielded that power regularly.
“I think there’s been a misconception on the last head coach and general manager and who had the authority,” Davis said. “Lately, some articles have come out making it seem like the head coach had more authority on that, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The general manager had the final authority on all of it. Whether he accepted that authority or not is a different story, but it was very clear when they were hired where the buck stopped.”
The McDaniels-Ziegler duo’s shortcomings will undoubtedly be on Davis’ mind as he determines the franchise’s course for the mid-2020s and beyond.
You’d think someone that owns an NFL team would be able to afford a reasonable haircut.
There is the low hanging fruit…
Right off the bat, not really original or witty, has nothing to do with the actual article, but does acknowledge that Mark Davis’s bank account has more zero’s than….. let you fill in something clever to complete.
If this attempted cut down on Mr. Davis was to equate to a play on the field —- The QB threw the ball away
Well said, Mr. Mark Davis’ barber. How much do you charge him for that cut? I’m looking to get something similar.
He did roast your bank account C-Daddy…
Well played sir…. well played…
For the traditional Prince Valiant I charge enough for a coach seat on Allegiant Air, unlimited plan on my Nokia flip phone, and fuel for the mini cooper.
Well, you can defend his haircut.. But you can’t defend his record as an owner. 8 head coaches since 2011?
The 8 coaches since 2011 also includes intern Head Coaches.
Mark Davis has actually hired Dennis Allen (with the guidance of Rodger Goodell), Jack DelRio, Jon Gruden (if not for the email, still be coaching), and Josh McDaniels.
The haircut is possibly an homage to Moe Howard, whose comedy is still quite popular among us old geezers.
One thing I have always respected about the Raiders, they do things their own way. When all these NFL owners in suits and “proper cuts” show up at the games or league meetings Al Davis used to show up in an all black or all silver warm up suit with slicked back hair. Same for Mark, you might think it looks stupid or silly but atleast he’s himself. Doesn’t have to pretend and show up in some “power tie” and a stupid suit. Mark shows up wearing a starter raider jacket to those league meetings. Come up with some new material buddy. That comedy skit is old. What are you going to do next? Make fun of Champ Kelly Because he wears a raider hat and pull over to the games while other GMs wear ties? or make fun of AP because he is the only NFL HC with stud earrings?
His haircut is indicative of how he runs his team. Make no mistake, both the team & his haircut are his; so he can do with either whatever he wants.
… not that it makes either less ripe for ridicule.
Yeah I’m sure he sleeps comfortably not caring what anyone thinks/says but c’mon, he looks like a meme
Not sure any respectable front office type wants a GM job there.
I’d disagree. Champ Kelly has stated many times he wants the job. He is highly respected in league circle and is expected to be a perm. GM at some point very soon whether with the Raiders or elsewhere. Did you read the article? It stated a few times that Kelly is well regarded executive.
The fact that neither Pierce nor Kelly satisfies the Rooney Rule kind of adds to its absurdity in my mind. If another team hired one of them, would the Raiders qualify for picks under the new inclusion rules, or would they not count since they are interim executives?
Agreed. Maybe the raiders can get picks for hiring them even though they’re in house? Also- if Davis has zeroed in on Kelly as the GM, and he has to interview another candidate to satisfy the quota, isn’t that the opposite of what the NFL is trying to achieve?
It’s an absurd rule. Bring in two others with no shot for the job. Talk about patronizing, but if I was the Raiders, I’d interview two players who might want to be a GM some day or just some random people walking down the street. Duty fulfilled.
I actually think this is why he made the move. Saw 49ers trade a compensatory pick for chase young and two days later hired these two.
I heard on raider nation radio 920 am when they had a guest on (cant remember his name) that this would not qualify because its not for outside the organization. That rule should actually be modified heavily and it should be renamed to the Al Davis rule. Al hired the first black HC, drafted the first black QB, Hired the first hispanic HC, had Amy Trask as the first woman in the highest executive post.
Tom Fears (Flores?) is the answer to this trivia question. Along with Art Shell and…Amy Trask, I think?
Can’t think of the QB-to be honest, I always want to say Daryle Lamonica just because I get him confused with Darryl Strawberry, which is rather silly. My mind’s a few RBIs short of 1000. Always thought it was cool that he had exactly that number, for some reason.
Eldridge Dickey was the QB. Drafted in the 1st round in 1968. Ironically in the same draft the Raiders took a kid out of Bama in the 2nd round. Ken Stabler.
Thanks for the info! Good to be educated a little bit on something.
This guys shares a hair stylist with Donald Trump
LOL except the former ex president ‘s hair looks like a transplant…
So witty, so original
Lloyd Christmas