Raiders coaching candidates with Ben Johnson out

Where do the Las Vegas Raiders go from here?

That is the prevailing question after the Raiders were rejected by Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who wa reported to be finalizing a head coaching deal with the Chicago Bears on Monday.

Johnson was linked heavily to the Raiders, largely due to the coaxing of minority owner Tom Brady, but the sudden change in direction now forces the team to pivot in a different direction.

They will now have to explore different avenues, giving second looks at coaches they have interviewed or plan to interview, as well as giving chances to candidates they have yet to consider.

So which options are still on the table for the Raiders at this stage?

Pete Carroll, former Seattle Seahawks head coach

With the information currently available right now, Carroll is considered the top option for a fallback.

According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Carroll is believed to have been the backup plan if the talks with Johnson fell through, as they now have.

“Carroll, who also interviewed with the Bears, is believed to be the Raiders’ backup option at head coach, according to league sources,” wrote Reed on Sunday. “He’s been an NFL head coach three times with the Jets (1994), New England Patriots (1997-1999) and Seahawks (2010-2023) and was also the head coach at USC from 2001 to 2009.”

As disappointed as Raiders fans are with Johnson not bringing his exciting brand of football to Las Vegas, Carroll offers a different type of advantage. He is a proven winner at every level of football, and has shown he can build and sustain a culture of excellence.

Carroll will be the oldest head coach in NFL history at 73 years old if the Raiders hire him, meaning he would definitely be a short-term solution. That said, pairing him with a good GM and bringing in a set succession plan would offset that concern.

If Carroll can put together a foundation for long-term success, the Raiders should have no qualms with bringing him along.

Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator

While the Raiders have yet to schedule an interview with Monken, their request to do so shows some level of interest.

He would have an in with the Raiders already, as he worked with All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers at the University of Georgia while serving as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator.

Now with the Ravens, Monken built an offense on par with Johnson’s, if not better in some areas. Monken had the Ravens offense as the top unit in the league in terms of total yardage and rushing, as well as third in the NFL in scoring.

Monken also offers some head coaching experience from his time with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Taking over the program in 2013 after they had endure a winless season, Monken built up the team and had them at 9-3 after three years.

That point will be of interest with the Raiders, as Monken has not only built winning cultures out of very little, but has carried that desire for winning everywhere he has gone.

If the Raiders want Johnson’s offensive playcalling prowess paired with Carroll’s coaching experience, Monken will emerge as a favorite quickly.

Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator

Brady hoped to use his connections to land Johnson, but he still has other options open to leave his mark on the Raiders in 2025.

Flores spent 15 years with Brady with the New England Patriots, where he worked his way from coaching assistant to defensive coordinator.

Flores became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2019, going 24-25 in three seasons there. While the team showed improvement, particularly on defense, power struggles and his treatment of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa saw him fired in 2021.

This season, Flores has rebuilt his image with the Vikings, putting together a defense that ranked first in takeaways and fifth in points scored against.

While questions about his demeanor and what he learned from his first coaching stint will persist, Flores has shown that he can improve teams on the fly through discipline and a strong defensive identity.

With a strong interview, Flores can change the narrative around him and lock down the Raiders job.

Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator

Coen is the only candidate on this list to not have an interview yet, but he stands out as an interesting consolation prize after missing out on Johnson.

A disciple of Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, Coen shined in his first season as primary playcaller with the Buccaneers. He single-handedly turned one of the league’s worst rushing offenses into a top-five group, and he did an excellent job of maintaining a high level of play despite injuries to top receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

If the Raiders want him, however, they will have to move quickly. According to Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter John Shipley, Coen aced his head coaching interview with the team.

“Liam Coen was nothing short of outstanding in his interview,” a senior NFL executive said, per Shipley.

“His knowledge of the game, both offensively and defensively, was eye-opening, as well as his handles on the responsibilities and how he would lead a franchise.”

Despite having no head coaching experience, this report on Coen is enough to raise some eyebrows. With teams still trying to find the next McVay, glowing praise such as this is bound to attract plenty of attention around the league.

Helping the Raiders out in a hypothetical pursuit of Coen would be the presence of Buccaneers assistant GM John Spytek, who has interviewed for the Raiders’ general manager vacancy. If Spytek does get the job, they could try and make a pitch to Coen to come along as part of a package deal.

Coen has the makings of a future head coach in the NFL, and the Raiders could find a long-term solution here if they act.