Las Vegas may have their hirings ready at head coach and general manager
The Las Vegas Raiders appear close to a decision for both the head coach and general manager openings this offseason. And it appears as if they will stay in-house with Antonio Pierce and Champ Kelly.
After a round of interviews that fulfilled the Rooney Rule, the Raiders can now proceed with hirings and multiple reports suggest they will go with Pierce and Kelly.
Sports Illustrated Raiders reporter Hondo Carpenter wrote on the situation Tuesday in his mailbag, revealing his prediction:
I think Champ Kelly and Antonio Pierce could be announced at any time on Thursday. Early next week? But I don’t think it will be at the end of the month; I think it will be sooner.
Hours later, Tashan Reed of The Athletic put this out on X (formerly Twitter):
#Raiders search update:
– They've now satisfied the Rooney Rule for both their GM and HC vacancies.
– My sense is owner Mark Davis' choice at GM is either Champ Kelly or Ed Dodds.
– All signs are pointing toward Antonio Pierce being the hire at HC.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) January 17, 2024
That was similar to what Vic Tafur, also of The Athletic, tweeted out on Sunday:
Champ hired Tuesday and AP Thursday?
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) January 15, 2024
Raiders could move fast with this
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Nothing is official yet but it wouldn’t shock us at all if this was the move the team decides to make. Everything is lining up for Pierce to be hired as the head coach and Kelly as the general manager.
And the sooner they get it done, the sooner they can get on the same page for what is going to be a very important offseason.
It also should make Maxx Crosby happy, right?