#las-vegas-raiders

#las-vegas-raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are promoting run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Leonard worked closely last season with Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby, whose future in Las Vegas remains uncertain. Leonard joined the Raiders in 2023 after spending one season as the Baltimore Ravens outside linebackers coach. Prior to Baltimore, Leonard spent three years (2019-21) with the Miami Dolphins, where he held multiple positions during his tenure.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire Mike McCoy as the assistant head coach under Klint Kubiak, sources told ESPN. McCoy was recently an offensive assistant turned interim head coach for the Tennessee Titans after the team fired Brian Callahan in October. McCoy brings a ton of experience to the first-time head coach Kubiak's staff. He spent four seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach (2013-2016).

Following their decisions to shelve Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick. After entering Week 17 in that slot, the Giants - as they did in 2024 - slipped out of the top two thanks to a late-season win. Big Blue's victories over the Raiders and Cowboys dropped them to No. 5, with today's win allowing the Jets, Cardinals and Titans to leapfrog them.

I had a great relationship with [Smith] before. It's just evolved from a mentor-mentee type situation to a father-son type of deal.

[Kliff] Kingsbury's head coaching candidacy is interesting despite Washington's struggles. He's a potential fit in Tennessee, with a young quarterback in Cam Ward who fits his style of offense. Las Vegas, should that job open as many around the league expect, will take a hard look at improving its offense. Kingsbury has been selective but is also open to becoming a head coach again. So while he's not the shiniest name because of Washington's record, I could see him being in the mix again.

As we get set for the final weekend of 2025 NFL regular-season games, the handful of remaining playoff races will get most of the attention. But the annual coaching carousel is also on deck, and we could see a lot of movement there as teams hit the offseason. Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been calling sources around the NFL for the latest news and buzz on key coaching situations heading into Week 18.

THE MOMENT WILL forever play in WR Alex Bachman's head, serving as a reminder of the uncertainty he has dealt with while trying to live out his NFL dreams. Playing for the New York Giants in 2021, he was certain that he would be elevated from the practice squad for the team's road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The race for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft is solidifying after 15 weeks of the 2025 season. Only five teams have at least a 1% chance at landing the top pick, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) projections. So we called on our NFL reporters and analysts to size up each of those bottom-tier franchises again after taking a look at midseason.

Ashton Jeanty has tempered those expectations. "I wouldn't say I'm as optimistic as Pete is sometimes," the rookie running back said Wednesday. "But I do think a lot of times, all it takes is one play, one spark to change the direction of the game for us and just for the organization to lead towards a win."

At one point in the game's final drive, the Raiders ran a pass play that ended with receiver Tyler Lockett being tackled inbounds with just eight seconds left. That should've ended the game, but a defender was flagged for a delay of game penalty when he jumped on Lockett and didn't immediately let him get up. This stopped the clock, allowing the Raiders to kick a 46-yard field goal to make the final score 24-17.

Sanders finally made his NFL debut last week against the Ravens when the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, got knocked out with a concussion. Sanders went 4-for-16 for 47 yards and a touchdown in a 23-16 loss in that game. But his fanbase - let's go ahead and call them the "Shedeur Simps", shall we? - were licking their chops on Sunday. Sanders would be making his first NFL start.