As everyone knows, the Las Vegas Raiders have officially parted ways with head coach Antonio Pierce.
Despite being beloved by the majority of the team, Pierce’s tenure as (permanent) head coach was short-lived, lasting just one season with a 4-13 record.
This decision leaves the Raiders searching for their seventh head coach since 2011, a period that also saw multiple interim coaches.
The team’s next move remains uncertain, but one prominent analyst has floated a bold suggestion.
Former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst Matt Leinart proposed the idea of Deion Sanders, the charismatic head coach of the University of Colorado, taking the reins in Las Vegas.
“Coach Prime to the Raiders…… who says no?” Leinart proposed on X.
Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, has transformed Colorado’s football program and garnered widespread attention.
Additionally, his son, Shedeur Sanders, is expected to be a top prospect in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, making the connection intriguing for a Raiders franchise that also needs a long-term answer at quarterback.
Adding fuel to the speculation, a video from last year shows Sanders playfully encouraging Pierce to draft both Shedeur and his other son, Shilo, to the Raiders during a pre-Super Bowl event.
Despite the buzz, several hurdles stand in the way of such a move.
The Raiders, currently slated to pick sixth in the upcoming draft, would likely need to trade up to land Shedeur Sanders, with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns occupying the top two draft slots and reportedly targeting quarterbacks.
Furthermore, Deion Sanders has previously expressed little interest in coaching at the professional level.
Perhaps it’s a leverage play, but Deion has stated over and over that he is more than happy at Colorado and has absolutely no plans to leave the Buffs.
FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt revealed a recent conversation he had with Deion regarding a potential future in NFL coaching.
“I asked him last Friday, ‘Do you want to go to the NFL?’ He looked at me and he said, ‘No,'” Klatt said. “I said, “Why?’ He said, ‘Because I don’t feel like I would be fulfilling my calling and my purpose if I was there.'”
Klatt elaborated on the issue during a recent appearance on the “Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth” show. (What a title, huh?)
“I’m obviously hopeful that he stays at Colorado,” Klatt said. “He has a very, very, very good offer in front of him from Colorado, and I don’t know why it hasn’t been signed, but I will tell you that I don’t think he works in the NFL.
“As good as he has been at Colorado, it’s a really perfect marriage there where they have given him the keys fully. He can be completely himself. You cannot do that in the NFL.”
To Klatt’s point, Deion has stated that he doesn’t believe he has the patience or personality to deal with some of the diva egos that exist in the NFL.
Speaking of the Raiders, the football world was stunned by yesterday’s news that minority owner Tom Brady is attempting to lure Bill Belichick out west to become the new head coach.
Of course, Belichick just recently accepted the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina. There is conflicting reports over just how interested he might be in returning to the NFL.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Belichick is 100% committed to his new role with the Tar Heels and isn’t interested in taking the Raiders job.
What are your thoughts on Leinart’s suggestion of Deion Sanders?
Should the Raiders at least inquire about the possibility? … Or do you take Coach Prime at his word that he won’t be coaching in the NFL anytime soon?
Interestingly, Deion did say that the “only way” he would consider jumping to the NFL is if he could coach his sons (Sheduer and Shilo) … The Raiders could possibly offer him that opportunity.
At the end of the day, who will be the Raiders next head coach???
