BREAKING: Raiders Fire HC Josh McDaniels & GM Dave Ziegler

The Las Vegas Raiders have fired HC Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler, according to Adam Schefter.

Schefter adds that the team will name LB coach Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach.

Jeff Howe reports that Raiders owner Mark Davis told both McDaniels and Ziegler that they had through the 2024 season to navigate through the rebuild. While the team hasn’t been as successful as hoped, the timing of their departure is considered a surprise.

McDaniels earned a six-year contract from the Raiders back in January of 2022. They’ll be required to pay the remainder of his contract, according to Schefter.

Davis said in a statement that he thanks McDaniels and Ziegler but moving on from them was in the best interest of the team.

“After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave. I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best.”

The Raiders have announced that assistant GM Champ Kelly has been named interim general manger. Kelly has interviewed for other general manager jobs and is considered to be highly regarded throughout the league. They will still conduct a formal search for a permanent candidate at that position at the conclusion of the season.

McDaniels, 47, began his NFL coaching career with the Patriots as a personnel assistant back in 2001. He worked his way up to offensive coordinator in New England before he departed for the Broncos head-coaching job in 2009.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go very well for McDaniels with the Broncos and he was fired during his second year with the team. After a brief stint with the Rams as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, McDaniels returned to the Patriots and has been running their offense ever since.

McDaniels agreed to become the head coach of the Colts a few years ago before later backing out of the agreement to remain in New England. He also drew interest last in 2020 from the Browns, Panthers, and Giants, but elected to stay with the Patriots. He finally took a job with the Raiders in 2022. 

Since taking the Raiders’ job last year, McDaniels has led to the team to a record of 9-16 (36.0 percent).

Ziegler, 46, began his career as a special teams coordinator at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. From there, he worked as the WRs coach and special teams at Iona College and John Carroll University.

Ziegler held roles in the Broncos’ scouting department before he was hired by the Patriots. New England promoted him to assistant director of player personnel in 2020 and then eventually director of player personnel in 2021, replacing Texans GM Nick Caserio.

From there, the Raiders hired Ziegler as their general manager in January of 2022, replacing former GM Mike Mayock.