Las Vegas Raiders fire Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler. Both have Northeast Ohio ties
The Las Vegas Raiders reached their breaking point with the regime that began their 2023 season.
In a news release late Tuesday night, the Raiders announced they had fired both coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. The duo lasted less than two seasons with the team before being dismissed.
McDaniels and Ziegler both have local connections. McDaniels is a Canton McKinley High School graduate. Ziegler is a Tallmadge High School graduate.
"After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave," Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement. "I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best."
It was McDaniels' second stint as an NFL head coach. He was hired by the Denver Broncos in 2009 and fired the next season. He coached just 22 games in Denver.
Before being hired by the Raiders, Ziegler was the director of player personnel for the New England Patriots. McDaniels was the offensive coordinator there when the Raiders hired the Ohio duo.
McDaniels and Ziegler met at John Carroll University, where they were roommates.
The John Carroll connection: Learn more about Dave Ziegler, his friendship with Josh McDaniels and the growing legacy of John Carroll football
Las Vegas Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce takes over
The Raiders announced linebackers coach Antonio Pierce had been named the interim head coach, and assistant general manager Champ Kelly will be the interim general manager.
The moves come just a little over 24 hours after the team fell 26-14 to the Detroit Lions on "Monday Night Football" to slip to 3-5 this season. Star wide receiver Davante Adams, who had previously voiced his discontent with the direction of the franchise as well as its lack of winning, slammed his helmet into the bench after one of multiple overthrows by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
McDaniels ended his tenure as Raiders coach with a 9-16 record.
Why did the Raiders coach get fired?
Both McDaniels and Ziegler were hired by Davis from the New England Patriots in January 2022, with the Raiders looking to turn the page after Jon Gruden resigned the previous October after it was revealed he repeatedly used homophobic and misogynistic language in a series of emails over a period of seven years. McDaniels inherited a team that went 10-7 and made the playoffs — the team's lone postseason appearance since 2016.
But Las Vegas limped to a 6-11 record in 2022, and longtime starting quarterback Derek Carr was benched late in the season. The Raiders later released Carr after he declined to waive his no-trade clause, and the veteran signal-caller signed with the New Orleans Saints.
McDaniels and Ziegler went on to sign Garoppolo this offseason, and the offense has struggled throughout the year. The unit has yet to score more than 19 points in a single game this season — a fourth-quarter safety helped seal a 21-17 win over the Patriots in Week 6 — and ranks 31st in yards per game (268.3) and 30th in scoring (15.8).
Reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs, whom the team gave the franchise tag to this offseason amid a prolonged standoff that did not produce a long-term deal, is averaging career lows of 3.1 yards per carry and 51 yards per game.
Davante Adams' view
Adams, meanwhile, has been open about his issues with the organization since it traded Carr, his former college teammate at Fresno State and close friend. In the offseason, he told The Ringer he didn't "see eye-to-eye" with the franchise's decision-makers "on what we think is best for us right now.” Earlier in October, Adams expressed frustration with his usage despite the team winning consecutive games over the Patriots and Green Bay Packers.
"When you’re a player like me, mentally, my benchmark is not wins and losses; it’s greatness," Adams said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raiders fire Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler. Both have NE Ohio ties
