Pete Carroll’s inaugural year for the Las Vegas Raiders has been nothing short of a worst-case scenario. Despite getting the quarterback he had with the Seattle Seahawks on Day 1 of his Las Vegas Raiders tenure and a Marshawn Lynch-like draft pick in Ashton Jeanty, Carroll is seemingly closer to the number one overall pick than getting another season with Las Vegas. Fans are not happy, and analysts are even less enthused by the 2025 Raiders.
With Black Monday approaching, Pete Carroll’s name is rumored to be on the chopping block. According to a Sunday report by NFL insider Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk, one league source has speculated about the possibility of a forced retirement that comes with a settlement.
“Coach Pete Carroll shouldn’t want to stay,” Florio wrote. “The Raiders shouldn’t want him to stay. Current speculation, per a league source, centers on some sort of a negotiated resolution, pursuant to which Carroll “retires” and gets a portion of what he’s owed.”
If that happens, Las Vegas will need a new face to head its football operation. As with any transition into the offseason, there are plenty of candidates available. However, some make more sense than others. Here’s a look at some potential replacements if Mark Davis, John Spytek, Tom Brady, and the rest of the Raiders brass want to go in another direction.
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Potential Pete Carroll replacements that make sense
#3 – Los Angeles Rams OC Mike LaFleur
The Los Angeles Rams have watched Kevin O’Connell go on an impressive run with the Minnesota Vikings in his first stop after serving as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. If Las Vegas wants to become an offense-first operation, the team could do much worse than Mike LaFleur. A member of the LaFleur family tree, the offensive coordinator knows offense and could be the next Kevin O’Connell. Adding LaFleur would seemingly be a slam dunk.
Under LaFleur, the Rams revitalized their running game, and Matthew Stafford is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career. Sean McVay would have to work hard to find a more formidable offense in his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams.
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#2 – Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter
One prerequisite to battling in the AFC West is knowing the AFC West. Jesse Minter is at the tail end of his second year in the division, so he has seen the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Las Vegas Raiders first-hand multiple times. Adding Minter would be like a Ben Johnson-like intradivisional move, but with a respected, young defensive coach instead of an offensive coach.
Minter’s defense is third in passing yards allowed per game, 11th in rushing yards allowed per game, and ninth in points allowed per game. If Las Vegas wants to keep things defensive at the head coach position but go young, Minter fits the bill. Of course, Mark Davis would need to give Minter at least two years, no matter the blowback, to have any chance.
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#1 – Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
Klint Kubiak, a member of the Gary Kubiak tree, is quite familiar with the AFC West. Kubiak has four years of experience coaching offense as a member of the Denver Broncos and has worked as an offensive coordinator for two different teams. Under his tutelage, Sam Darnold has become a respected name in the NFC when there were no guarantees of the quarterback working out.
If the Raiders want to go young and chase teams like the Chicago Bears that have abandoned their defensive roots for flashy offense, Kubiak might be as good a name as it comes. Kubiak can also lean on his father for any tips and knowledge that might help. This would potentially speed up his development and give the Raiders a chance to avoid getting stuck in the cellar of the AFC West.