Raiders Rumors: Vrabel 'Front-Runner' If Pierce Fired as Davis Will Consult Tom Brady

Though the Las Vegas Raiders haven't yet fired Antonio Pierce, there's already a reported front-runner to take over as head coach should the first-year coach be dismissed.

Per Sports Illustrated's Alber Breer, Mike Vrabel could be in line for the Raiders job if Las Vegas were to fire Pierce. According to Breer, when Tom Brady began pursuing minority ownership of the Raiders last season, "some internally took it as a sign that a run at Vrabel" was imminent.

Vrabel was Brady's New England Patriots teammate from 2001 to 2008.

When deciding whether to move on from Pierce, Raiders owner Mark Davis "will listen to Brady's counsel on where Pierce has taken the program and where things should go," according to Breer.

Las Vegas has won its last two games but is 4-12 on the season and is already eliminated from the playoffs. The Raiders will finish with a worse record than they had in the 2023 season.

Vrabel, who has held just one head coaching job in the past, led the Tennessee Titans to two division titles and an AFC Championship game appearance in his six years at the helm. He was fired in January after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The 2021 Coach of the Year has spent the 2024 season serving as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns but is looking to get back on the sideline. The Raiders could end up giving him the opportunity to do so.