Cancerous Culture Keeps Killing Raiders’ Momentum

“Commitment to Excellence” used to mean something. The phrase used to resonate deeply with the older generation. But it’s been nearly 25 years since the Las Vegas Raiders last won a playoff game. There are 31 NFL teams—and then there are the Raiders.

Facing the facts…

For what feels like the third straight year, the Raiders are once again staring at a full-scale regime change. The rebound hire of Pete Carroll isn’t faring any better than the Antonio Pierce experiment. The pricey quarterback addition that sent Aidan O’Connell into exile has been a bust. Even the “generational” running back looks ordinary behind a poorly coached offensive line.

It’s time for a hard, honest look at the organization. Financially, the Raiders are thriving, but fans are left shaking their heads. The losing stretches past logic—past probability—and deep into an era where even a broken clock seems more reliable. And the reasons stack up quickly:

• Antonio Brown’s frostbitten foot saga
• Antonio Brown’s helmet saga
• Henry Ruggs’ DUI tragedy
• Jon Gruden’s email scandal
• Davante Adams’ trade request
• Jack Del Rio’s anthem controversy
• Christian “Silky Wilky” Wilkins (more to come… none good)
• Damon Arnette flashing weapons online
• Marvin Lewis’ questionable “mentorship” role
• Josh McDaniels’ system-over-players rigidity
• McDaniels’ quarterback evaluations
• Dave Ziegler’s hesitancy to challenge his coach
• Someone’s refusal to sign Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski
• The parade of overpaid, washed-up “retirement contract” free agents
• Darren Waller’s roller-coaster availability

And these are just the headline-grabbers. Add decades of bad calls, bizarre breaks, and draft busts, and it’s no wonder top free agents use the Raiders as leverage instead of a destination.

Blown drafts, wasted talent, and a culture stuck in neutral…

Despite having world-class facilities and a premier NFL stadium, the Raiders’ personnel department remains stagnant. They cling to outdated practices, overlooking two decades of evidence that indicate a franchise quarterback is long overdue. The team has not utilized a first-round pick on a quarterback in nearly 20 years—and the repercussions are evident.

The Raiders rarely develop their own talent. Instead, they function like a farm team, patching together rosters with short-term free agents and castoffs from elsewhere. By the time a group gels, the regime is fired, the culture resets, and the roster gets churned again.

The phrase “Once a Raider, always a Raider” now feels like a farewell tagline—players thrive only after escaping the chaos. From unknowns who blossom elsewhere to future Hall of Famers who stagnated in silver and black, the story stays the same.

Coaching changes haven’t helped either. From burying footballs to “loving on one another” to Pete Carroll topping Ric Flair’s age bracket for public combat, nothing has shifted the culture longer than half a season. Raider Nation believed Carroll could steady the ship and deliver a 10-win turnaround. Instead, goodwill appears to be his only real contribution.

Nepotism hires have exacerbated the situation. The offensive line is operating under schemes it clearly lacks confidence in. Evaluating the passing game is challenging when Geno Smith cannot consistently deliver the football, even when receivers manage to get open.

What comes next for the Raiders?

An injury-riddled roster, a quarterback leading the league in interceptions, and a team stuck in neutral leave little room for optimism. The remaining schedule offers few realistic opportunities for a win.

The Raiders now face a familiar, exhausting crossroads: replacing the head coach, the staff, the quarterback, and much of the roster. And the order matters. A credible head coach won’t take the job without a roster foundation. A roster won’t come together without stability at quarterback. And the fastest rebuild path in today’s NFL starts with drafting a young passer on a rookie deal and committing to a coach with time to develop him.

The cycle—wash, rinse, repeat—feels endless. Rosters reshuffled, coaching staffs gutted, regimes overhauled, and even ownership changed hands. And still, the same results.

So the real question remains: Where is the true root of the problem—and will the Raiders ever get it right?

IG: @_TheRaiderRamble