Raiders sack head coach Josh McDaniels and GM David Ziegler
The Las Vegas Raiders have sacked head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler, the team announced late Tuesday night.
The announcement comes just days after the 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football in which McDaniels’ offense managed just 157 total yards, leaving the team 3-5 to start the 2023 season.
In a statement, owner Mark Davis announced that “the Raiders need to move forward” and that they have “decided to part ways with Josh and Dave” as a result.
McDaniels, who signed a six-year contract when he was hired in January 2022, leaves Las Vegas after recording a 9-16 record over one and a half seasons with Las Vegas. Following a short spell with the Broncos between 2009-2010, McDaniels becomes the first non-interim coach in the Super Bowl era to be fired by two franchises before the end of his second year.
Ziegler was also hired in the same offseason as McDaniels, and despite having both worked at the Patriots at the same time, the relationship never led into success.
It is expected that the Raiders will name linebackers coach Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach, while assistant general manager Champ Kelly will be the interim GM. A “comprehensive search” for a replacement will take place after this year.
Pierce’s head coaching debut will come on Sunday against the team he won a Super Bowl with, the New York Giants, who are 2-6.
More to follow.
