The Las Vegas Raiders made a massive decision a few weeks ago to hit the reset button. Less than two years after handing the reins of the franchise over to general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, ownership decided to go in a different direction.
Zeigler and McDaniels were fired, along with offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi, after Week 8. It was a bit of a surprising move given how little time they held the positions, but owner Mark Davis felt something had to change.
Attempting to recreate the ‘Patriots Way’ as Zeigler and McDaniels hail from the New England Patriots, was ultimately their downfall. Like so many other people from the Bill Belichick tree, they wanted to do things the same way with another franchise but two main ingredients missing; Belichick himself and Tom Brady.
NFL News & Rumors: Josh McDaniels, Dave Zeigler, C.J. Stroud, Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders Updates
Those two, seemingly more so Brady, we have come to learn is what made the Patriots Way what it was. McDaniels failed epically with the Denver Broncos in his first opportunity as head coach but didn’t learn from any of his mistakes as he was quickly fired again.
Unfortunately, this time around, he took Zeigler down with him. Some blame can be placed on Zeigler for hitching his wagon to McDaniels, who was reportedly, ultimately responsible for his demise.
According to Hondo Carpenter, a Raiders writer, Zeigler was high on quarterback C.J. Stroud and thought the Raiders should make a move for him in the 2023 NFL Draft. McDaniels was not keen on the idea and pushed for Jimmy Garoppolo as the team’s starter.
Zeigler reportedly had no faith in Garoppolo remaining healthy and being their future at the position. But, that is what McDaniels wanted and he got his way in the end. Their futures and that of the Raiders forever been changed by McDaniels winning that battle.
NFL News & Rumors: Josh McDaniels, Dave Zeigler, C.J. Stroud, Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders Updates
The rest, as they say, is history. Fast forward a few months, Zeigler and McDaniels are both out of a job and Garoppolo has been benched for rookie Aidan O’Connell but interim head coach Antonio Pierce.
Zeigler was on the money about Stroud, who has quickly turned around the fortunes of the Houston Texans and looks like a star. He is not only running away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award but could end up with some MVP votes with how well he has been playing.
Pushing to have Garoppolo as his starting quarterback over Stroud looks like an all-time blunder by McDaniels. It cost several people their jobs and the trajectory of the Raiders’ franchise has been altered as a result of it.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
