Did the Raiders miss out on their ideal head coach in 2025? It’s a question that’s been buzzing in NFL circles, and the answer might surprise you. While Pete Carroll took the helm of the Raiders last year, it turns out he wasn’t the team’s first choice—and Tom Brady’s influence in the decision-making process has raised eyebrows. But here’s where it gets controversial: according to league insider Tony Pauline, first-year GM John Spytek had little say in Carroll’s hiring. So, who would Spytek have chosen? And this is the part most people miss... Reports suggest it might have been his former offensive coordinator in Tampa, Liam Coen.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Adam Hill doubled down on this theory during a recent podcast episode of Vegas Nation First and 10. Hill boldly stated, ‘I would bet a large amount of money that John Spytek already had a list [of coaching candidates] when he was hired last year.’ He went on to claim, ‘If Spytek had been in charge, Liam Coen would be the Raiders’ head coach today.’ This interpretation isn’t without merit—The Athletic’s Mike Jones confirmed that Coen was a serious contender for the job, though the Raiders ultimately pivoted to Carroll after losing another candidate to Chicago.
But was Carroll the right choice? In hindsight, some argue that hiring Coen might have been the better move. However, Hill didn’t stop there—he dropped another bombshell that’s sure to spark debate. In a discussion with fellow beat writer Vinny Bonsignore, Hill claimed that Cam Ward was a stronger prospect in 2025 than Fernando Mendoza is this year. This take aligns with Bomani Jones’ controversial statement on The Right Time, where he argued that Mendoza doesn’t fit the mold of a No. 1 draft pick. ‘You look at Cam Ward with the Titans,’ Jones said, ‘and you’re like, ‘That guy was the No. 1 pick in the draft.’ You see that.’
So, what do you think? Was Spytek’s vision for the Raiders’ future overlooked? And is Hill’s comparison between Ward and Mendoza fair, or is it an overreach? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss. For more insights, check out the latest episode of the FIRST AND 10 Podcast, where Vinny Bonsignore and Adam Hill dive deep into Spytek’s plans for the franchise, the fallout from Carroll’s firing, and the futures of stars like Maxx Crosby and Geno Smith. (Links: @raidersbeat, FIRST AND 10 Podcast)
