Raiders coaching search: Defensive candidates that make sense

From super veteran Pete Carroll to Robert Saleh, a look at coaches who could shore up Las Vegas’ defense

Would owner Mark Davis hand the keys to his Las Vegas Raiders to a defensive-minded head coach after Antonio Pierce?

As the Silver & Black continue the quest to land a new head coach and general manager, it’s an excellent question in a situation that doesn’t have much clarity — yet. Las Vegas has interviewed candidates for head coach and have engaged in requesting interviews for the general manager vacancy.

We’ll see who eventually assumes the mantles from former head coach (Pierce) and GM (Tom Telesco). And there the rumor mill is churning like it usually does. Case in point: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson viewed as the Raiders top candidate for head honcho. The buzz is there and it seemingly stems a lot from minority owner Tom Brady’s presence in Las Vegas. ESPN’s Dan Graziano, for example, predicts Johnson leading the Silver & Black.

But with potentially a significant time gap on the horizon for Johnson — he can’t officially be hired until after the Lions are done with the playoffs (eliminated or win the Super Bowl) — and his own reluctance in last season’s hiring cycle when he spurned the Washington Commanders, it’s murky.

Although, the Raiders are reportedly willing to wait on Johnson.

I explored the offensive-minded candidates a week ago and let’s let’s look at the defensive-minded candidates.

Las Vegas definitely needs help on offense. But the defense needs attention, too. The gist: The Raiders couldn’t score enough points (29th out of 32 teams scoring an average of 18.2 points per contest) and couldn’t stop the opposition from doing the same (ranked 25th allowing an average of 25.5 points per game)

The Furious Five below are on the Raiders radar with some having interviewed.

Let’s dive in.

(For context: The defensive-minded coaches are in alphabetical order, not order of priority or importance):

Pete Carroll

Former Seattle Seahawks head coach

The elder statesman of the candidates the Raiders have reportedly spoken to at 73. Carroll brings a wealth of experience — and offers the most amongst candidates in this cycle — and a Super Bowl title on his resume (2013 with the Seattle Seahawks). He compiled a 170-121-1 record as the head man in Seattle from 2010-2023.

As a coordinator and defensive-minded head coach, Carroll’s teams have been in the Top 5 in points and yards allowed six times (a five-year string from 2012-16 the longest consecutive streak). Age may be a off putting, but Carroll has the experience and leadership to be an interesting option.

Plus, Carroll becoming Raiders boss means the rivalry between he and Jim Harbaugh is renewed — in the AFC West.

Aaron Glenn

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator

A fiery cornerback who snatched 41 career interceptions and 163 career pass deflections, the 52-year-old defensive boss orchestrated a stingy group in Detroit this season. Allowing the seventh least amount of points (342 total; 20.1 per game average), Glenn’s Lions defense has improved in each year he’s been the coordinator.

He joined the Lions in 2021 and his unit has ranked 31st, 28th, 23rd, and seventh in points allowed during his tenure. How Detroit performed despite going through a myriad of injuries is eye opening and goes to show both Glenn’s football acumen and ability to relate and lead his players.

Vance Joseph

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator

After a failed two-year stint as Denver’s head man (11-21 record), the 52-year-old rebounded as a defensive boss for the Arizona Cardinals before returning in 2023 to the Broncos to run Sean Payton’s defense.

Joseph’s unit was tops in the league with 64 sacks (the Baltimore Ravens were second with 54) in 2024 and the Broncos allowed the third least amount of points (311; 18.3 per game) in the NFL. Denver also allowed the seventh least amount of yards (5,391) this past season. Scheming and play calling are Joseph’s strengths and after competing against the AFC West the last two seasons, brings valuable experience, too.

Robert Saleh

Former New York Jets head coach

Axed by the Jets just five games into his fourth year as head man, Saleh compiled a 20-36 record in New York the last four years. But it’s the 45-year-old’s ability as defensive play caller that is a draw.

His unit with the San Francisco 49ers ranked as high as eighth least amount of points allowed while Jets group ranked as high as fourth least allowed. From 2022 to 2024 as Jets boss, Saleh’s defense were in the Top 5 (fourth, third, and third) in yards allowed. Saleh flamed out in that circus of a Jets organization.

Steve Spagnuolo

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator

A head coach in two different places (the St. Louis Rams 2009-2011 and New York Giants (2017), the 65-year-old captained a defense that kept scores close for Kansas City. Allowing the fourth least amount of points (326 total, 19.2 points per game) and ninth least amount of yard (5,451), Spagnuolo loves to bring pressure via the blitz.

The Chiefs had the fourth highest blitz rate this season (31.6 percent of defensive snaps) resulting in the sixth most pressures on the year (171). While Kansas City may have been middling in sacks (39) and interceptions (13), Spagnuolo’s unit kept teams out of the end zone a lot. Like Joseph, Spagnuolo has plenty of experience against the AFC West.