The Raiders set up 2nd interviews with Jesse Minter, Jeff Hafley
It’s been exactly two weeks since the Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll and began their head-coaching search.
The process is kicking into the second phrase. Monday, ESPN reported that the Raiders will have second interviews with Los Angels Chargers defensive coordinator and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley this week. Meanwhile, there are rumors floating that Hafley may become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins early this week.
Previously, it was reported that the Raiders will have a second interview with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. All of these interviews are expected to be in person. Teams are allowed to start in-person interviews Monday.
Thus, all three of the coaches who have moved on in the process so far are defensive-minded coaches. They’d all be first-time NFL head coaches. Of the Raiders 14 coaches interviewed, nine were offensive coaches. So, expect some candidates from that side of the ball to be interviewed again.
The Raiders are satisfying the NFL’s Rooney Rule this week and will be free to make a hire soon.
Las Vegas, which hired Carroll in a 17-day process last year, may wait until next week so they can interview candidates who are in the NFC championship round. The Raiders have interviewed six coaches still in the playoffs. They are Mike LeFeluer, Nate Scheelhaase and Chris Shula of the Los Angeles Rams, Vance Joseph and Davis Webb of the Denver Broncos and Klint Kubiak of the Seattle Seahawks.
There are now eight current openings with the Buffalo Bills firing Sean McDermott on Monday morning. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders try to talk to McDermott. Two teams have filled their jobs, the New York Giants (John Harbaugh) and the Atlanta Falcons (Kevin Stefanski). Stefanski interviewed with the Raiders.
Others they could try to interview include Robert Saleh and Brian Flores.
So, while they are entering the second phase, there are reasons to believe this process isn’t close to being completed.
Category: General Sports
