Report: Raiders' Davis Didn't Want the 'Patriots Way' with Vrabel After McDaniels

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis didn't choose to pursue Mike Vrabel for the team's head coaching vacancy due to a lack of success under another coach with ties to the New England Patriots, according to Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic.

"Davis apparently is not interested in another go-round with 'The Patriots Way' after the failure of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler two years ago, according to league sources," Tafur and Reed wrote.

Vrabel was announced as the Patriots' new head coach on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas is currently conducting its own hiring process after parting ways with former head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday.

Prior to Pierce's brief tenure with the team, Josh McDaniels served as the Raiders' head coach from 2022 until he was fired after Week 8 of the 2023 season. McDaniels, who spent 13 years as New England's offensive coordinator before taking the job, finished with a record of 9-16 in Las Vegas.

Former Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler was also fired at the same time as McDaniels. Ziegler previously served as the director of player personnel with the Patriots.

Vrabel's ties to New England stem from his playing days, spending eight of his 14 years as an NFL linebacker with the organization.

Davis' hesitation following McDaniels' subpar tenure makes sense, but that hasn't stopped him from enlisting the help of Patriots icon and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady to be part of a committee to interview head coaching candidates.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported Thursday that Brady had a conversation with fellow New England legend and current North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick regarding a move to Las Vegas, but the team hadn't given "serious consideration" to signing Belichick.

The Raiders seem to be focused on an offensive-minded coach, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed that they're "said to be enamored with" Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Las Vegas is still in the midst of its coaching search, but Davis didn't appear to have Vrabel on his radar before he joined the Patriots.