Following their loss to Lions on Monday night, the Las Vegas Raiders decided last night to part ways with head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler.
"After much thought about what The Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave. I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best," Raiders owner Mark Davis shared in their release.
McDaniels inked a six-year deal upon his hire in January 2022, and he's let go with over four full years left on the deal.
The move, which marks the first head coaching change of the NFL season, comes days after a widely reported passionate team meeting where players vented a wide array of frustrations following their challenging start to the season.
That was (at least) their second such team meeting, as they had a similar one following an 0-3 start back in late September.
McDaniels was eight games into his second season as the head coach, and had the Raiders sitting at 3-5. He went 6-11 in his first season.
He leaves Vegas, his second stint as a head coach after less than two seasons with the Broncos in 2009-10, with a record of 9-16. Including his time in Denver, McDaniels has gone 20-33 as an NFL head coach.
Raiders owner Mark Davis has decided that former Arizona State defensive coordinator / associate head coach Antonio Pierce, who is in his second season coaching the linebackers for the Raiders, will step in as the team's interim head coach.
He becomes the 12 different individual to lead the Raiders over the past 20 seasons - the most for any team during the past two decades, Adam Schefter points out. He's the eighth different head coach (interim or full-time) since Mark Davis has taken over ownership back in October 2011.
The team shares that they are "committed to undergo a comprehensive search for a head coach once the season is complete."
Champ Kelly, who is in his second season as an assistant general manager with the team, has been elevated to interim general manager. He previously spent seven seasons in personnel and scouting with the Bears and Broncos.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.