Why Tom Brady's preferred Pete Carroll replacement may be wrong fit for Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach Pete Carroll after a dreadful 3-14 season. They must ensure their next HC is a quarterback whisperer. 

Vegas should take a QB with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, perhaps Indiana Hoosiers star Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner. Mendoza, 22, could be a solid replacement for Geno Smith, who threw a league-leading 17 interceptions in 15 starts in 2025. 

For Mendoza to succeed in Vegas, he needs an offensive-minded coach. Surprisingly, the preferred candidate of Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, a former New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB, doesn't fit that description. 

Tom Brady reportedly wants the Raiders to target Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores 

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Brady wants the Raiders to hire Flores as HC and add former New York Giants HC Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. He's familiar with both coaches, as they each served as assistants under former Patriots HC Bill Belichick. 

Despite the connection to Belichick, Flores, who went 24-25 as Miami Dolphins HC from 2019-21, may not be the right candidate for the Raiders.

Why the Raiders should pursue other options

When looking around the league, it becomes apparent that most young QBs are better served with an offensive-minded HC. Take Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams, 24, who has posted a 58.3 QBR in his first season under rookie HC Ben Johnson, a former Detroit Lions OC. The second-year QB logged a subpar 43.3 QBR in one season under ex-HC Matt Eberflus, now serving as Dallas Cowboys DC. 

Now, some defensive coaches can develop young QBs. Look at Patriots HC Mike Vrabel, a former NFL LB, who has turned QB Drake Maye into a league MVP candidate. Maye, 23, ranks third in the league in TD passes (31 in 17 games) in his first season under Vrabel.

Flores, however, doesn't seem to fall into this category. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa never threw more than 16 TD passes in two seasons under the coach. In four seasons under Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel, a former San Francisco 49ers OC, he has topped that figure each season, including a career-high 29 in 2023.

Now, Daboll could help Flores develop a QB. While serving as Buffalo Bills OC from 2018-21, he played an instrumental role in QB Josh Allen's development, helping the four-time Pro Bowler earn his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020. 

But the head-coaching hire is more critical than the OC hire. Even if the HC isn't calling plays, he still plays one of the most vital roles in the QB's success or failure.

That may be why Flores could be the wrong guy for the Raiders. The defensive wizard could be a good HC for a team, just not one that's grooming a young QB.