Over the last few weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders have had to replace coaches on their staff who didn't even coach a game for the team. After Kliff Kingsbury backed out of the offensive coordinator position, he was expected to accept with the Raiders.
Las Vegas also had to replace their new running backs coach, DeShaun Foster. The veteran running back took the head coaching position at UCLA, where he attended college and played football. Foster's departure left the Raiders attempting to quickly fill the position with a quality hire.
Coach Antonio Pierce has done a masterful job filling his staff with former players who are now coaches in the National Football League, much like himself. He did so when he hired Foster and again when he hired Foster's replacement, Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams.
Foster and Williams have a lot in common. Both were formidable running backs in their collegiate days who had respectable careers in the NFL. After his successful college career, Williams was drafted by former Raiders Coach Jon Gruden when Gruden was the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Williams would play for seven seasons while registering over 4,000 rushing yards. After retiring from the NFL, Williams started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia. In 2019, he was hired by former Auburn University Coach Gus Malzan as Auburn's running backs coach.
He would remain in that position even after Auburn fired two head coaches. After Auburn fired their most recent head coach, Bryan Harsin, Williams was named the interim head coach. He'd go 2-2 while the interim coach of one of the worst teams in arguably the best conference in college football.
The Raiders now turn to Williams to help lead their group of running backs, which could look much different next season.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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