Raiders Fire Pete Carroll After 3‑14 Season, Begin Search with Tom Brady Involved
Updated (5 articles)
Carroll’s Dismissal and Season Record On January 5, 2026 the Las Vegas Raiders terminated 74‑year‑old Pete Carroll after a single 2025 season that ended 3‑14, including a ten‑game losing streak and a 14‑12 victory over Kansas City in the final week [1][3][4]. Carroll, the league’s oldest active head coach, had arrived promising immediate success but failed to meet the double‑digit win goal set by ownership [1][4]. Newsweek reported a 2‑14 record, creating a minor discrepancy with other outlets that list the team at 3‑14 [5].
Ownership and Front‑Office Search Leadership Owner Mark Davis announced that general manager John Spytek will partner with minority owner Tom Brady to lead the coaching search, giving Brady an advisory role in the decision‑making process [1][4][5]. Spytek publicly accepted “a ton of responsibility” for the season’s outcome and pledged an aggressive offseason to reset the franchise [1]. The collaboration signals a high‑profile, collaborative approach to selecting the next head coach.
Roster Assets and Draft Position The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft and project more than $100 million in cap space, providing the incoming coach with flexibility to acquire a franchise quarterback or trade the pick [1][4]. Prospects highlighted include Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and quarterback Dante Moore, prompting the front office to weigh an offensive‑minded coach versus a defensive architect [1][4]. Insider reports also mention the potential trade of Pro Bowl defender Maxx Crosby as part of the broader rebuild [5].
League‑Wide Coaching Turnover Context Carroll’s firing joins four other dismissals—Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals), Kevin Stefanski (Browns), Raheem Morris (Falcons), and Brian Daboll (Giants)—raising the total NFL head‑coach vacancies to six as of January 5, 2026 [2]. The wave of changes, dubbed “Black Monday,” reflects a league‑wide post‑season reset and may influence the Raiders’ hiring strategy [2][3].
Sources
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1.
AP: Las Vegas Raiders fire Pete Carroll after 3‑14 season, begin coaching search: Details Carroll’s dismissal, season record, and the ownership‑led search involving John Spytek and Tom Brady, plus draft and cap assets .
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2.
AP: Four NFL head coach firings raise vacancy total to six: Lists the five other coaching changes, notes the total of six vacancies, and provides context for league‑wide turnover .
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BBC: Raiders, Browns and Cardinals fire head coaches on NFL Black Monday: Confirms Carroll’s firing, mentions his age and Super Bowl pedigree, and highlights Tom Brady’s role in the search .
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King5: Raiders fire Pete Carroll after 3‑14 season, will seek new coach for third straight year: Emphasizes the back‑to‑back coaching changes for the Raiders and outlines the collaborative search led by Davis, Spytek, and Brady .
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Newsweek: Raiders seek new coach after Carroll era; Brady linked to search: Reports a 2‑14 record (contrasting other sources), outlines Brady’s advisory involvement, and discusses potential quarterback prospects and a Maxx Crosby trade .
Timeline
2021 – Tom Brady begins involvement in the Raiders’ coaching searches, marking the start of his role as a minority‑owner advisor in the franchise’s sixth head‑coach hunt since the 2021 season [1].
2024 – Raheem Morris is hired as the Atlanta Falcons head coach, beginning a tenure that later ends after a four‑game finish in 2025 [3].
Nov 10, 2025 – The New York Giants dismiss head coach Brian Daboll after an 8‑of‑10 start, citing a collapse that includes a blown 18‑point lead to Denver, highlighting the league’s mid‑season volatility [3].
Late Dec 2025 – The Las Vegas Raiders finish the regular season 3‑14, endure a 10‑game losing streak, and close with a 14‑12 upset of Kansas City, underscoring the failure of Pete Carroll’s one‑year experiment [4].
Jan 4, 2026 – The Raiders announce a broad, multi‑candidate coaching search, confirming that minority owner Tom Brady will partner with GM John Spytek to guide the hire, and hint at roster moves such as a possible Maxx Crosby trade [2].
Jan 5, 2026 – Black Monday sees the Raiders fire Pete Carroll, the Browns dismiss Kevin Stefanski, the Cardinals part ways with Jonathan Gannon, and the Falcons fire both head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot, illustrating a league‑wide post‑season reset [1][3].
Jan 5, 2026 – Owner Mark Davis states that GM John Spytek and Tom Brady will lead the Raiders’ coaching search, emphasizing a focus on “leadership, culture and long‑term alignment” as the franchise pivots [4].
Jan 5, 2026 – GM John Spytek takes responsibility for the season, saying “I bear a ton of responsibility… we will attack it full on” and pledges an aggressive offseason to rebuild the roster [4].
Jan 5, 2026 – The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft and project over $100 million in cap space, giving the incoming coach flexibility to target a franchise quarterback like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore, or to explore a defensive‑first rebuild [4][2].
2026 offseason (future) – The Raiders consider hiring either an offensive‑minded coach to develop a rookie quarterback, following examples such as Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams, or a defensive architect akin to Mike Vrabel, while weighing the trade value of Pro Bowl defender Maxx Crosby as part of the roster overhaul [4][2].
External resources (2 links)
- https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2007602887271252009 (cited 1 times)