A pair of struggling NFL franchises have reportedly considered a leadership change.
The Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders have performed “preliminary research” on potential coaching switch-ups, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
During a Tuesday appearance on “This is Football” with Kevin Clark, Fowler said that while neither franchise has committed to a coaching shakeup, it remains a possibility heading into the offseason.
“There are some 50/50’s out there,” Fowler said. “Cleveland, Las Vegas, those are two places I see as — they’ve done their preliminary research for a potential move. That doesn’t mean they’re locked into doing it, or that they decided yet. But those are certainly on my radar.”
In Las Vegas, former Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll has led the Raiders to a league-worst 2–14 record in his first season after coming out of retirement.
The 74-year-old Carroll was brought into stabilize the franchise, but instead it has been another season of dysfunction.
Star pass rusher Maxx Crosby left the team facility last week after being told he was being put on IR.
That preceded their tenth straight loss, a 34-10 drubbing from the then two-win Giants in Week 17, which gave the Raiders an 80 percent chance of securing the first overall pick in next year’s draft.
According to NFL Insider Tony Pauline, three separate sources have told him that Carroll will be fired after Las Vegas’ Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs — while NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport hypothesized that the No. 1 pick will likely catalyze the leadership change.
“This can change an organization,” Rapoport said. “It took a lot to get here. We’ll see if Pete Carroll’s there for it. I doubt it, but we’ll see.”
Across six seasons under two-time AP Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland has gone just 44–56 with a lone playoff win.
The Browns have won just seven games in the two seasons since an 11-6 campaign in 2023 earned Stefanski a long-term extension.
They “improved” to 4-12 this year after an improbable Week 17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the coach’s job security has grown increasingly muddled heading into the last week of the regular season.
Stefanski skirted questions regarding his future earlier this week, telling reporters that his primary focus is beating the Bengals in Week 18 — while also acknowledging his appreciation for the opportunity to helm the Browns.
“My sole focus is on this game versus Cincinnati,” Stefanski said. “But I also would tell you I’m privileged to have this job.”
According to Fowler, Cleveland could eye current Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel to fill a potential coaching vacancy.
