Davis wants 'people with passion for football' amid Raiders' HC, GM search
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said he's learned from his mistakes as the team looks for a new head coach in 2024.
"I'm getting good at it," Davis recently told The Athletic's Tashan Reed. "You got to get it right. You got to get the whole structure right so that everybody's working together. The left hand has to know what the right hand is doing. That's the goal: to start with getting people with (a) passion for football and people who are unafraid to work."
The Raiders are looking for a new sideline boss after firing Josh McDaniels on Nov. 1. Las Vegas also parted ways with general manager Dave Ziegler.
McDaniels became the fourth head coach fired by the Raiders since Davis took over in 2012. The team has also had three different interim coaches in that span, including Antonio Pierce, who's 2-3 with Las Vegas as McDaniels' temporary replacement.
"We're trying to build something," Davis said. "I want to have patience, but I understand that when I make a mistake, I'd rather fix it. I can't sit on it. I've got to fix it right away."
Davis praised Pierce's leadership. However, the Raiders owner expects greater improvement from the team's offense beyond this season.
"With (McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi) leaving, the offense was now put in the hands of (interim OC) Bo Hardegree," Davis added. "So, in that regard, Antonio is a rookie head coach with a rookie quarterback and, really, a rookie offensive coordinator who's never done it before.
"I put a lot of stress and pressure on that side of the football. And so, as the results haven't been there, you have to understand why there might not be results. Those are things I understand and go into the evaluation process of where the team is."
Las Vegas ranks only 28th in points per contest this year. The team put up 30 points in its first game after firing McDaniels but hasn't scored more than 17 in a contest since. The Raiders lost to the Minnesota Vikings 3-0 in Week 14.
Davis said he's leaning toward hiring a general manager before naming a new head coach.
"It's wide-open," Davis said about his searches for a new sideline boss and GM.
"But it's tough at the same time because I do have Antonio and (interim GM) Champ (Kelly) in those positions, and I'd like for them to get the job. So, if I start to feel like that's definitely the way I'm going to go - which I'm not there - then I don't want to mislead people in the interview process."
The Raiders haven't won a playoff game since 2002.