Five NFL teams remain without head coaches after the New England Patriots, who hired Mike Vrabel on Sunday morning, were the first to strike. The Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas Raiders all have remaining vacancies. The latter has recently been linked to legendary defender and current Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.
Raiders’ Interest in Deion Sanders Is Reportedly Not Mutual
Amid swirling rumors about Sanders potentially becoming the next head coach in Las Vegas, an NFL analyst has thrown cold water on the idea. “Coach Prime,” who has electrified college football at Colorado, was speculated to be a possible candidate for the Raiders’ vacancy.
On Saturday, a report from Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal surfaced that Sanders has expressed interest in becoming the head coach of the Raiders.
“The person indicated that NFL-connected associates of Sanders reached out to the Raiders to express Sanders’ interest in the opening,” Bonsignore wrote.
Only the interest doesn’t appear to be mutual.
A league source told The Athletic’s Vic Tafur that the Raiders have “zero interest” in hiring Sanders.
The Raiders reportedly are NOT interested in bringing Prime Time to Vegas 👀
(via @VicTafur) pic.twitter.com/SiopDJGnoH
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 12, 2025
Tom Brady’s Influence on Raiders Head Coach Hire Looms Large
Brady, who purchased a minority stake (5%) in the Raiders in May 2023, is rumored to have significant influence on organizational decisions, including the team’s search for its next head coach.
Brady is part of a committee tasked with hiring a new head coach after Antonio Pierce was fired on Jan. 7.
Reports suggest that Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, envisions the Raiders adopting a disciplined, no-nonsense culture akin to what he experienced under Bill Belichick. Brady’s highly publicized meeting with his former head coach was not to persuade him to come to Vegas. Instead, it was to seek guidance from the GOAT of head coaches.
Why Sanders Isn’t a Fit for the Raiders
Sanders is the opposite of no-nonsense. While his charisma and leadership have been game-changers for college programs, the NFL demands more than motivational speeches—it requires intricate knowledge of pro-level schemes and player management.
As evidenced by its first round of interview requests (including Detroit Lions offensive and defensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn), Raiders leadership prioritizes seasoned NFL coaches or coordinators with proven track records, which leaves Sanders off the shortlist.
The Raiders don’t need a media spectacle; they need stability. Sanders’ larger-than-life persona could overshadow the team’s focus, especially in the high-pressure Las Vegas market.