Look, being a fan of the Silver and Black has always been a bit of a rollercoaster. But the last few weeks? It’s been more like a freefall. If you’ve been searching for the latest Las Vegas Raiders news, you know the "Oakland" name is long gone, yet the drama feels exactly like the old days.
The big bomb dropped on January 5, 2026. Mark Davis finally pulled the plug. Pete Carroll is out after just one season. Honestly, it was a mess. A 3-14 record is hard to stomach, especially when you tie for the worst record in the league. People are calling it a "one and done" disaster, and it's hard to argue with that when you look at the 10-game losing streak they just endured.
The Firing of Pete Carroll and the Tom Brady Factor
It feels like yesterday that everyone was buzzing about Pete Carroll coming to the desert. At 74, he became the oldest person to ever coach an NFL game. But the magic he had in Seattle just didn't translate to Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders fired him right after the season ended with a weirdly poetic 14-12 win over the Chiefs. A win, sure, but a "meaningless" one in a season where nothing went right.
But here is the thing people are actually talking about: Tom Brady.
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We knew Brady was a minority owner, but the official statement from Mark Davis made it crystal clear. General Manager John Spytek isn't just running the show alone; he’s doing it in "close collaboration" with Brady. They were teammates back at Michigan, and now they basically hold the keys to the kingdom. If you’re looking for the real Las Vegas Raiders news, it’s that Brady is no longer just a guy in a suit in the owner’s box. He is the dominant voice in this rebuild.
The QB Carousel and the Number One Pick
The quarterback situation was, well, painful. Geno Smith was brought in from Seattle, but an ankle injury sidelined him late. Aidan O'Connell had wrist issues. Basically, the offense was stagnant. The silver lining? Because the Raiders were so bad, they secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
This is the "golden ticket" fans are clinging to. Most experts are looking at Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore. The Raiders haven't had a "no-doubt" franchise QB in what feels like forever. The buzz around Mendoza is getting loud. Pat McAfee has already started hyping him up, and you know how that goes.
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Why the 2025 Season Was a Textbook Disaster
If you look back at the 2025 campaign, it’s a list of "what ifs" and "why nots."
- The Rookie Mystery: Why didn't Caleb Rogers and Jack Bech play more? Bech was a second-round pick, yet Carroll’s staff kept him on the bench while the offense struggled to find a pulse.
- The Trenches: The offensive line was arguably the worst in the league. You can't win when your QB is running for his life every third snap.
- The Injury Bug: It wasn't just the QBs. Brock Bowers (Knee - PCL) and Maxx Crosby (Knee) spent way too much time on the injury report.
Honestly, it felt like Murphy’s Law was the real head coach last year. Everything that could go wrong did. Jakobi Meyers was traded away to the Jaguars in November. Davante Adams was already long gone to the Jets. The cupboard felt bare, and the results showed it.
The Search for a New Identity
Right now, the Raiders are interviewing everyone. Jeff Hafley (Packers DC) just completed an interview. Names like Mike LaFleur and Brian Flores are floating around. The word on the street is that Mark Davis wants a "young, innovative offensive mind." Someone who can take that No. 1 pick and actually build a system around him, instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
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Some fans are annoyed, though. Tim Brown, a total legend, recently mentioned he doesn't even get phone calls from Mark Davis for input. It’s a bit weird, right? You have all this "Raider Excellence" history, but the leadership seems to be leaning entirely on the Spytek-Brady Michigan connection.
What You Should Expect Next
If you're following the Las Vegas Raiders news day-to-day, the next few weeks are going to be wild.
- The Coaching Hire: Expect a decision by early February. They need a recruiter and a developer, not just a "name."
- Free Agency Strategy: With the worst record, they have money to spend, but will anyone want to come to a team that’s had five coaches in six years?
- The Draft Focus: It’s QB or bust. If they trade that No. 1 pick, the fans might actually revolt at this point.
The narrative has shifted. It’s not about "Oakland" anymore, and it’s not just about "Vegas" glitz. It’s about whether Tom Brady can be as good in the front office as he was on the field. He’s "all in," and for better or worse, the future of the Silver and Black is now tied to his legacy.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep a close eye on the "Head Coach Candidate Tracker." The team is specifically looking for someone from the Shanahan or McVay coaching trees to modernize the offense. Also, watch the medical updates on Brock Bowers—his recovery is vital for whoever takes over at QB. Finally, check the scouting reports on Fernando Mendoza; if he's the guy, the 2026 season will look very different from the 2025 nightmare.