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ESPN Predicts Who The Raiders Will Hire As Head Coach

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 5:03 PM ET

One popular candidate is gaining buzz for the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching position.

The Raiders will begin the 2025 season with their fifth different coach in the last five years. They fired Antonio Pierce after going 4-13 in his inaugural campaign.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano predicted hirings for the NFL's six head coaching vacancies. He believes the Raiders will land Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

"This definitely would not have been the spot people picked for Johnson when this process started," Graziano said. "But I have been told new minority owner Tom Brady has been making a personal appeal to Johnson and trying to sell him on coming to Las Vegas to build a program together with a new GM."

Graziano believes owner Mark Davis will give the new head coach and general manager "a long runway" to build around a new quarterback.

The prediction aligns with other recent reports. On Friday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said the Raiders are "enamored" with Johnson. Brady spent an hour speaking to Johnson's agent in an attempt to recruit the coordinator.

The Las Vegas Review Journal's Vincent Bonsignore also wrote Monday night that "a lot of things" are "lining up and pointing to" the Raiders hiring Johnson.

However, they may not be the only team interested. Johnson interviewed with the Raiders, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars during Detroit's first-round playoff bye. He also spoke with the New England Patriots, who later hired Mike Vrabel.

Johnson entered the last two coaching cycles as a highly touted candidate, but it seems unlikely that he'll stay in Detroit another year. The Lions went 15-2 with an NFL-high 33.2 points per game and the league's second-most total yards behind the Baltimore Ravens.

Jared Goff appeared on a downward trajectory when throwing 19 touchdowns with 6.6 yards per attempt in 2021. However, the former No. 1 pick set personal highs with 37 touchdowns and 8.6 yards per attempt this season.

Brady's reported interest in Johnson could create a tricky situation for FOX. The iconic quarterback will call Detroit's NFC Divisional Round game against the Washington Commanders this Saturday night.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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