Before accepting the Chicago Bears’ coaching job, Ben Johnson was aggressively pursued by Tom Brady to lead the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini.
How Big Is Tom Brady’s Role in the Raiders’ Organization?
The report, which states that Brady and Johnson spent hours together in a virtual Zoom meeting during the interview process, seemingly indicates that Brady, the Raiders’ minority owner, will have a significant role in the hiring process and the overall future direction of the franchise.
Tom Brady and Ben Johnson spent hours on a zoom last weekend. He made a strong case and Johnson strongly considered making the move to Las Vegas. Chicago wins the Johnson sweepstakes.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 20, 2025
If anybody knows how to build a winning culture, it’s Brady. With just four playoff wins in the last 25 years, it should be no surprise that owner Mark Davis trusts the seven-time Super Bowl champion to identify a quality leader for the Raiders.
In addition to leading the coach hiring process, Brady will likely take on an executive role in the team’s free agency and draft decisions. The organization clearly values his input, and he will strongly influence personnel decisions going forward.
Ben Johnson Chose Chicago Despite Brady’s Recruiting Efforts
No matter how strong Brady’s recruiting pitch was to Johnson, the Chicago Bears have an asset he just couldn’t refuse: Caleb Williams. Coaching the Bears presented a chance to coach a young quarterback widely hailed as a generational prospect last draft season.
The Raiders, in contrast, don’t have a franchise quarterback on the roster. With a weak free agency class on the horizon and the Raiders slated to draft outside the top five behind several quarterback-needy teams, there is no easy path to finding one.
For an offensive-minded coach like Johnson, it would prove difficult to persuade him to join a franchise with no clear quarterback answer when he had a talent like Williams waiting behind Door No. 2. Throughout the hiring process, Williams was not shy about expressing his interest in Johnson as his next head coach, and the interest was apparently mutual.
Who Are the Top Remaining Candidates for the Raiders’ Coaching Job?
Pete Carroll, Former Seattle Seahawks Head Coach
While other candidates are still being considered, Pete Carroll is now considered the favorite to coach the Raiders, according to Tashan Reed, a Raiders insider at The Athletic.
Carroll has experience building a winning culture, and his strong résumé and leadership as a Super Bowl-winning coach may prove too enticing for the Raiders to pass up.
Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Todd Monken was the only offensive coach interviewed by the Raiders outside of Johnson. If the Raiders are still hoping to find an offensive mind to pair with their next quarterback, presumably, Monken is next on the list.
Monken was the offensive coordinator for consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship victories at the University of Georgia before returning to the NFL and calling an explosive Baltimore Ravens offense.
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
While Liam Coen hasn’t yet received an official interview request from the Raiders, there is a lot of smoke connecting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator to Las Vegas.
The Raiders have strong interest in John Spytek, the assistant general manager for Tampa Bay who was Brady’s former college teammate at Michigan. Spytek watched Coen coach Baker Mayfield to a career year in 2024 while also revamping the Bucs’ rushing attack from dead last to one of the league’s best.
Spytek has already interviewed twice for the Raiders’ general manager position, and if he is hired, expect him to be interested in Coen as the team’s next head coach.
According to The Athletic, the other candidates who have been interviewed include Aaron Glenn, Steve Spagnuolo, Robert Saleh, Vance Joseph, and Ron Rivera.
