The Raiders are back at the drawing board.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Kliff Kingsbury, who was expected to become the Raiders offensive coordinator, instead has withdrawn from consideration.
The 11th-hour change of heart leaves the Raiders as one of three teams without an offensive coordinator, including the Seahawks and Commanders, which just filled their head coaching vacancies this week.
Kingsbury was the former Cardinals head coach and was fired in January 2023, 10 months after signing a six-year contract extension.
Kingsbury spent the 2023 season as an offensive analyst at USC, returning to college football after he coached Texas Tech from 2013-18.
Per ESPN, others who received interviews in Las Vegas were former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan and former Browns offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport added that UCLA head coach Chip Kelly was also interviewed before the Raiders decided on Kingsbury.
The Patriots hired Van Pelt as their offensive coordinator this week. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac wrote that Sullivan is expected to be retained as Steelers quarterbacks coach under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Kelly could still be an option, and he’d be the fourth college head coach to leave his job for a coordinator role this offseason.
Getsy, who was described by NFL insider Albert Breer as being “well-respected” in league circles, is also still available and could be the best fit in Las Vegas.
“The Raiders’ interview appeared to be a guise to talk to Getsy about Justin Fields,” wrote NBC Sports Chicago’s Ryan Taylor earlier this week.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields will likely be traded this offseason with Chicago expected to draft quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall. Las Vegas, which needs a quarterback and has talented offensive playmakers including running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Davante Adams, would be one of the best landing spots for Fields.
The pairing will make even more sense if Getsy is the beneficiary of Kingsbury’s decision.
