A Raiders insider predicts who will be the next head coach if Antonio Pierce is fired

After being in the playoff hunt last season following a second-half surge under then-interim coach Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders have suffered huge regressions in 2024, leading many to believe Pierce’s job is in serious trouble .

With Tom Brady, the new ownership blood, expected to have a voice in the team’s direction going forward, it’s entirely possible that the Raiders get off to a clean start and start fresh next offseason.

If that turns out to be the case and Pierce is booted, Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter believes the Raiders will hire former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to replace the Raiders’ embattled head coach (H/T Raiders Beat) to replace.

“If they replace Antonio (Pierce), I believe Mike Vrabel will be the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “I am in no way advocating for Antonio to leave and I want to make that clear. But I think if they leave him, it will be Mike Vrabel. He has a great relationship with (Tom) Brady. They are very close.”

“(Vrabel) knows what Tom wants,” Carpenter added. “He knows what the defense is supposed to do, but he already has Patrick Graham. The key will be when Mike Vrabel has the most success as a coach when he has a complete offensive coordinator.”

Like many others, Carpenter believes Brady will have a big impact on what the Raiders do in 2025 and beyond.

“I suspect that Mark Davis will let Tom Brady have the most dominant voice,” he said. “Let’s make this very clear now.” If Tom Brady has the dominant voice, which I think he will, and I’ve been reporting on this for over a year, then you definitely need to know because Mark Davis let him . He’s not going to come in and trample Mark.”

Hiring Vrabel as the Raiders’ next head coach is certainly a logical prediction, especially considering his relationship with Brady.

A former AP Coach of the Year, Vrabel had great success with the Titans before being fired earlier this year. Vrabel compiled a 54-45 record and led the Titans to a total of two division titles and three playoff appearances, one of which gave the Titans an unlikely trip to the AFC title game in 2019.

However, the Titans went off the rails in Vrabel’s final two years, with the team posting an overall record of 13-21. But the Titans also struggled with injuries during those seasons, and former Titans general manager Jon Robinson made several mistakes that ruined Tennessee’s once-talented roster.

Vrabel would be an excellent choice for the Raiders. He has a strong track record and knows how to get the best out of his teams, and he will create a great culture in Las Vegas that is much needed.

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