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McDaniels, Sixth Raiders Coach Fired In-Season

Josh McDaniels is only the sixth head coach fired by the Las Vegas Raiders in-season over their lengthy history.

When Josh McDaniels was fired on Tuesday night, he became the sixth head coach the Las Vegas-Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders turned loose during the regular season in their 64-year history.

McDaniels, who was sent packing along with General Manager Dave Ziegler, had a 9-16 record in almost a year and a half as the Raiders’ coach and was 3-5 this season after consecutive losses on the road to the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.

Jon Gruden technically resigned rather than be fired in 2021 over a series of offensive emails he posted during his second stint as coach of the Silver and Black, in which he had a 22-31 record, including 3-2 in that season, when there was speculation that owner Mark Davis would fire him.

“I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” said Gruden, who was 52-38 in his first coaching stint with the Raiders from 1998-2002. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

The first two head coaches the Raiders had after their founding in Oakland in 1960 were fired by then-owner Wayne Valley.

Eddie Erdelatz, who had been a standout coach at Navy, was the Raiders’ first coach in 1960 and they were 6-8 that season, but he was fired in 1961 and replaced by Marty Feldman after losing the first two games of the season.

Josh McDaniels is just the sixth head coach fired by the Las Vegas Raiders over their lengthy history in-season.

Darrell Craig Harris, Raiders Today

Feldman didn’t do that much better, as the Raiders finished that season 2-12, and after the Silver and Black started 1963 by losing their first five games, he was fired after posting a 2-15 record. Bill Conkright was hired and went 1-8 the rest of the season, winning the last game to wind up 1-13.

Valley turned the Raiders around when he hired Al Davis as coach and general manager in 1963.

“I knew that eventually it would come down to me and Davis for control of the Raiders,” Valley said. “He wants to be an owner. Davis was very image conscious. He felt being an owner was a step up. But I have been in business for a long time and he’s a football coach, so I figure I have the advantage.”

Valley figured it wrong, and Davis eventually owned the Raiders.

Davis didn’t fire a head coach until he axed Mike Shanahan in 1989 following a 1-3 start, after he led the Raiders to a disappointing 7-9 season the year before, losing four of the last five games. He was replaced by Hall of Fame tackle Art Shell, who went 7-5 the rest of the way.

Then Davis fired Coach Lane Kiffin over the phone on Sept. 30, 2008, after the Raiders lost three of their first four games for a 1-3 start and were 5-15 overall record under Kiffin. Tom Cable took over as head coach, went 4-8 the rest of the season, and finished his head coaching career with the Silver and Black at 17-27.

Lastly, Davis fired Coach Dennis Allen, who was 8-28 in his career, after the Raiders started the 2014 season 0-4, and replaced him with Tony Soprano, who went 3-9 the rest of his only season as Oakland finished with a 3-13 record.

Since Gruden technically wasn’t fired, the next one was McDaniels, and with him gone, some members of Raider Nation are asking facetiously if quarterback Derek Carr can now return.

The Silver and Black will return to Allegiant Stadium to take on the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 4:25 p.m. EST/1:25 p.m. PST.