Raiders hiring Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator?

The Raiders' former defensive coordinator left for the Colts on Friday, but depending upon whom you ask, they may have replaced him with an upgrade.

Las Vegas is hiring Patrick Graham as its new defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Graham replaces Gus Bradley, who was hired by Indianapolis earlier in the day.

Graham, 43, garnered significant interest as a head-coaching candidate this offseason. He interviewed for the job with the Giants -- with whom he was still technically employed as defensive coordinator -- and was one of a handful of finalists for the Vikings job, even scoring a second interview.

After working his way up the college ranks, Graham first broke into the NFL in 2009 as a coaching assistant for the Patriots. In 2010 he was a defensive assistant for New England, and by 2011 was linebackers coach. He became the defensive line coach from 2012-13, but returned to linebackers from 2014-15.

In 2016, Graham left the Patriots for the Giants, for whom he became the defensive line coach. He stayed there for two years before jumping to the Packers as linebackers coach and run game coordinator, but after just one season left for the Dolphins to become their defensive coordinator.

In 2020, Graham returned to New York as he was named the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Giants. In his first year with the Giants, he took the defense from 25th in the league in yards allowed to 12th, but Big Blue regressed back to 21st in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Raiders' defense ranked 14th in yards allowed last season under Bradley and former head coach Jon Gruden. Graham will now work under new head coach Josh McDaniels, widely considered to be one of the league's top offensive minds.