The Las Vegas Raiders have been the talk of the NFL ahead of Week 9.
Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler were both fired on the same day, a move that was generally well-received by fans.
McDaniels had particularly received significant criticism from the fanbase given his track record as their head coach.
In the aftermath of these firings, Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke about his situation, and what led to his ultimate decision.
According to Davis via ESPN and Pro Football Talk, “It just seemed we were going in the wrong direction.”
Mark Davis: Raiders were going in wrong direction with Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler. https://t.co/WMyIsNQ2CE
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 2, 2023
McDaniels was supposed to make a massive impact on a struggling team, but he could not get the job done.
Davis recognized this in this statement, saying, “I had high hopes for Josh and Dave.”
Even though McDaniels and Ziegler were seen in a positive light when they entered the organization, the attitude towards them quickly shifted.
The NFL continues to evolve into a “What have you done for me lately?” kind of league.
If coaches, players, or members of a team’s front office have an off-year, they tend to be placed on the chopping block.
McDaniels and Ziegler are a great, recent example of that.
The Raiders’ record during their tenures spoke for itself, and Davis couldn’t stand to see things operate in this manner anymore.
Antonio Pierce, the Raiders’ former linebackers coach, has taken over as interim until Davis finds a replacement.
He has gotten high praise thus far and will be tasked with keeping morale up for the remainder of the season.
NEXT: Raiders Interim GM Makes Clear Statement On QB Decision
