The Las Vegas Raiders made the decision to fire head coach Antonio Pierce after just one full season at the helm. Whether or not that was deserved is a topic of discussion, but regardless, owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady now face an important decision in deciding who will be the next coach of the franchise.
The Raiders have been open about their desire to get back into contention, and in order to do so, they need the right person in charge. Many names have already been mentioned as possibilities, and arguably the biggest has emerged in former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
Of course, Brady and Belichick have a long history together, and it is believed that the Raiders owner will have a big say in who takes over as head coach. As such, it should come as no surprise that Brady is one of many who has reached out to Belichick about a potential return to the NFL, via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com:
Multiple NFL teams have inquired about whether legendary coach Bill Belichick would reconsider his move to college football — including the Las Vegas Raiders, whose new minority owner Tom Brady spoke recently with his old coach about what it would take to make a reunion happen in Las Vegas, per sources.
Brady and the Raiders, along with many other teams, are reaching out to Belichick, which isn’t surprising considering his pedigree, with many considering him the greatest coach in NFL history. However, just a month ago, Belichick agreed to a five-year deal to move to the college game and become the head coach at the University of North Carolina.
That move came as a shock to many as Belichick has never coached at the collegiate level, and some have wondered whether he will ultimately return to the NFL in short fashion. However, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Belichick has no plans on making an NFL return at the moment:
Bill Belichick has no plans to return to the NFL, per sources.
I’m told his sole focus is on coaching and recruiting for North Carolina, as he continues building the Tar Heels’ future. He’s recruiting today in New Jersey.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 8, 2025
Belichick’s contract with North Carolina does have a $10 million buyout if he leaves prior to June 1, and that is relatively cheap, so it seems plausible that he could get out if he wanted to. It’s also being reported that Brady feels it will take a coach of Belichick’s stature to establish a culture the Raiders need to succeed.
But for the time being, at least, it seems as if Belichick is staying where he is at, and Brady and the Raiders will have to look elsewhere to find their next head coach.
Raiders viewed as a potential landing spot for Mike Vrabel
Another name that has been mentioned as the next potential Raiders head coach and has ties to Tom Brady from their days with the Patriots is Mike Vrabel.
A recent report listed the Raiders as a potential landing spot for Vrabel if they were to fire Pierce, which they have done. His success with the Tennessee Titans and ties with Brady make him a logical option, but he will undoubtedly be one of the most sought-after coaches this offseason.
