The Las Vegas Raiders continue to make interview requests across the NFL and have already interviewed several interesting candidates for their head coaching job. With the team still conducting their first round of interviews, it’s far too early to know who the favorite is, but the better market thinks there’s one.
There were previous rumors that minority owner Tom Brady was leaning toward hiring Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. However, the Raiders haven’t even requested to interview yet.
That could be because Brady already knows him very well from their time in New England together, so he doesn’t feel the need to include him in the first round of interviews.
Even with the lack of an interview request, DraftKings has Flores as the early favorite to be the next Raiders head coach at +175. Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is second on the list at +800.
Flores wouldn’t be a controversial choice because he’s not qualified. He previously had success as the Miami Dolphins head coach and is clearly one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. What makes him a controversial choice is how things ended in Miami and the fact that he’s currently suing the NFL for alleged discrimination.
Is Flores Right for Raiders?
If there’s one team in the league that isn’t going to care about how the NFL feels about their head coaching hire, it’s the Raiders. The franchise has battled the league for decades.
The lawsuit likely won’t stop the Raiders from hiring Flores if they think he’s the right fit. That said, there are other concerns with the coach. He did not have a great reputation for how he works with people after he left Miami.
He’s a really smart football coach, but he alienated a lot of coaches and players. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa referred to Flores as a “terrible person.” Ryan Fitzpatrick also suggested that Flores was not a great person to work with. Perhaps he has learned in the subsequent years, but the Raiders do have to be cautious with Flores. The last time they hired a former Bill Belichick assistant who had a reputation for being difficult was when they added Josh McDaniels, and that turned out to be a disaster.
Other Coaches in the Mix
If the Raiders don’t go with Flores, there’s a good chance they’ll focus on the offensive side of the ball. The aforementioned Kubiak makes a lot of sense. He’s a strong offensive mind who comes from a football family. With a rookie quarterback likely coming in, the Raiders might want a strong offensive mind to develop him.
Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is an interesting name to watch. He’s very young and doesn’t have a lot of experience, but many see him as a future head coach. The Raiders could choose to be early on him if they think he can be a star.
Las Vegas is also hoping to interview Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He could be a sleeper candidate if the Raiders think he can be a great playcaller.
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