Newly appointed Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had been strongly linked to the Las Vegas Raiders by a number of insiders. However, Raiders owner Mark Davis came out with a statement that defies these rumors and clarifies the situation.
Mark Davis Reveals Ben Johnson Wasn’t Raiders’ Top Pick in Head Coaching Search
According to initial reporting, the Raiders conducted a virtual interview with Johnson on Jan. 10. The Lions’ playoff campaign was still alive at that time, so the Raiders were prepared to wait for Johnson if Detroit advanced further. Tom Brady’s involvement in the process seemed to have piqued his interest in the project.
There also was some reporting that the Raiders interviewed Lance Newmark, the Washington Commanders’ assistant general manager and a former Lions executive, with the hopes of enticing Johnson with a familiar face in the front office. Pacman Jones had reported that the Raiders had Johnson on top of their list.
However, conflicting reports began to emerge soon after the Divisional Round weekend, and soon Johnson had been announced as the Bears head coach. This turn of events was something that Raiders media personnel wanted clarity on during Pete Carroll’s introductory press conference. Mark Davis granted it to them with a brief answer:
“No we didn’t think we had Ben Johnson. We never made an offer to Ben Johnson.”
Mark Davis on possibility of landing Ben Johnson:
“No we didn’t think we had Ben Johnson. We never made an offer to Ben Johnson.”#Raiders #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/5uVyeq97Vs
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) January 27, 2025
Johnson’s decision makes sense to outsiders as well — as the most sought-after offensive coordinator in search of a head coaching role, joining a team with no/few questions at QB (like the Bears, Jaguars, or Cowboys) made more sense than the Raiders.
With Carroll at the helm, the Raiders have elected to go with experience and camaraderie. While Carroll spearheaded several top teams in Seattle, his primary value lay in being a great locker room presence.
Tom Brady and the Raiders’ thinktank would be hoping to capitalize on his charisma and the ability to get the best out of his players. The team has not had a distinct cultural presence in charge for a long time. Carroll provides this, and reassures NFL veterans across the league about their prospective fit with the organization in free agency.
Hiring a coach who was criticized for letting the game pass him by is undoubtedly a bit of a risk. But Brady and Carroll have the opportunity to turn things around with a franchise that has been in the doldrums for over two decades.