The Las Vegas Raiders are pinning their hopes on head coach Pete Carroll to revive their struggling franchise, but at 74 years old, his time in the role is limited. Signed to a three-year contract in the offseason, Carroll’s age raises questions about the team’s long-term plans. With no clear successor on the current coaching staff, the Raiders are left searching for a future head coach to carry the torch. However, a shocking revelation has surfaced about a missed opportunity that could have set the team up for long-term success.
According to Mike Silver of The Athletic, the Raiders aggressively pursued former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh in the offseason, offering him a record-breaking contract to join the team as defensive coordinator. The deal came with a tantalizing promise: Saleh would be groomed to succeed Carroll as head coach when the veteran coach retires. Despite the lucrative offer, Saleh turned the Raiders down flat, making it clear that if he didn’t land another head coaching job, his heart was set on returning to the San Francisco 49ers.
The decision to reject the Raiders’ offer likely wasn’t easy for Saleh, who has a history with Carroll. From 2011 to 2013, Saleh served as a defensive quality control coach under Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks, a role that helped propel him to bigger opportunities in the NFL. That connection made him an ideal candidate to join Carroll’s staff in Las Vegas, blending familiarity with the potential to lead the team’s defense and eventually take over as head coach.
Instead, Saleh chose to return to the 49ers as their defensive coordinator, a decision that appears to be paying off. San Francisco’s defense has been stellar this season under Saleh’s guidance, positioning him as a strong candidate for another head coaching job in 2026. By contrast, the Raiders’ defense, led by well-regarded coordinator Patrick Graham, has struggled to find its footing due to personnel limitations.
The Raiders’ interest in Saleh raises an intriguing question: why didn’t they hire him as head coach outright? After being fired by the Jets, Saleh was a free agent and likely would have jumped at the chance to lead an NFL team again, even one with the Raiders’ challenges. His record as a head coach with the Jets was underwhelming at 20-36, but many argue the dysfunction in New York was a bigger factor than Saleh’s coaching ability. A fresh start in Las Vegas could have allowed him to implement his defensive expertise while learning from Carroll’s veteran leadership.
Saleh’s defensive schemes might have meshed well with Carroll’s philosophy, potentially outperforming Graham’s efforts with the Raiders’ current roster. However, doubts linger about whether Saleh was the right choice for head coach. His tenure with the Jets showed he could struggle to turn around a struggling franchise, and the Raiders, still reeling from their own issues, might not have been the ideal landing spot for him to prove himself as a head coach.
For now, the Raiders are sticking with Pete Carroll, whose early tenure has been rocky. Despite his age and the team’s struggles, Carroll’s track record of turning programs around keeps hope alive in Las Vegas. His experience and leadership are assets, but the clock is ticking, and the lack of a clear successor on the staff is a glaring concern.
Saleh’s rejection of the Raiders’ offer underscores a missed opportunity to secure a coach with long-term potential. While he could have been a strong defensive coordinator and eventual head coach, his decision to return to San Francisco suggests he’s betting on himself to land a bigger role sooner rather than later. For the Raiders, the search for a future leader continues as they navigate a challenging present under Carroll’s guidance.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the Raiders must balance their faith in Carroll with the need to plan for the future. Saleh’s refusal to join the team stings, but it’s a reminder that building a winning franchise requires not just big contracts, but the right vision and the right people to execute it.