Despite the Las Vegas Raiders going through a few head coaching changes in recent years, the one coach who has been able to survive is defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He was first hired by Josh McDaniels, then retained by Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll.
Surviving a fourth head coaching change will be very difficult, and it’s possible he won’t want to stick around. If the Raiders hire somebody like Brian Flores as head coach, it’s possible he’ll be retained, but that won’t stop him from exploring other opportunities.
In the past, Graham has gotten head coaching interviews, but this most recent Raiders season went so poorly that it’s unlikely he’ll get a real chance to be a head coach this offseason. That could lead him to look for a lateral move to another franchise.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Washington Commanders put in a request to interview Graham for their defensive coordinator opening. In the past, the Raiders had blocked Graham from interviewing for defensive coordinator jobs before they figured out their head coach.
This time around, it looks like the Raiders are comfortable letting him leave for another team. NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that Las Vegas will not block Graham from interviewing this time around.
Should Raiders Let Graham Leave?
Graham is clearly a high-level defensive coordinator. The Raiders have very little defensive talent on their roster, especially this season, but they remain competive most games. The bigger problem with the Raiders over the last three seasons has been the offense.
Graham put together one of the most impressive coaching performances in recent years when he had the Raiders playing like a top-five defense after McDaniels was fired during the 2023 season.
That said, it’s likely time for a fresh start for both sides. Graham wants to be a head coach, but that’s only going to happen if he can lead an elite defense. The Raiders just don’t have the talent for him to achieve that, and it’s hard to imagine they will for the next couple of seasons.
The Commanders are coming off a rough season, but head coach Dan Quinn is one of the top defensive minds in the NFL. Together, they could build an elite defense, which would certainly help Graham get a head coaching job.
Will Raiders Hire Defensive-Minded Head Coach?
It makes a lot of sense for the Raiders to hire a head coach with an offensive background. The offense was a disaster this season, and they are likely to add a rookie quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Defensive head coaches typically have more success with veteran quarterbacks. However, the Raiders have interviewed Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. There are also rumors linking them to Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
That’s not to mention that they were willing to make Robert Saleh the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL last season before he chose the San Francisco 49ers. He’ll be in the mix for the head coaching job. While an offensive coach makes a lot of sense, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Raiders to pick a defensive-minded coach.
