Tom Brady Has Clear Preference For Raiders Next Head Coach
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Tom Brady didn't just invest into becoming a minority owner in the Las Vegas Raiders to make some easy passive income. He's apparently dedicating serious time to ensuring that the franchise succeeds.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Brady is personally recruiting one of the top coaching candidates out there to become the next head coach in Sin City. The target is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has coached the Lions to three straight top five offenses and back-to-back playoff appearances.
Rapoport said that Brady spent "about an hour" talking to Johnson's agent in an effort to recruit him, and the Raiders organization is now "enamored" with Johnson as a candidate for their job.
"My understanding is (Johnson) has emerged as a name to watch for the Las Vegas Raiders. He has actually interviewed with them and the presence of Tom Brady has loomed incredibly large. Brady actually spent about an hour with his agent just talking things over, essentially recruiting Ben Johnson and giving him an idea of what Las Vegas would be like. My sense is the organization is 'enamored' with Ben Johnson," Rapoport said.
Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is personally recruiting Lions OC Ben Johnson to become the next HC in Las Vegas, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/8yJviLkMt7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 11, 2025
Johnson has been a popular head coaching candidate for the past couple of years and ticks off nearly all the boxes for what a successful coach has these days. He's young (38), offensive-minded, gets the most out of quarterbacks and is a former quarterback in his own right.
The Raiders have historically loved hiring young coaches, whether it's the legendary John Madden (32), Mike Shanahan (35), Jon Gruden (34), or Lane Kiffin (31).
He might fit the organization like a glove if he can just find the right quarterback for his system.
The one thing that may be tough for Johnson early in his career is the quarterback situation. As it stands, the Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick in a draft that is pretty lacking in elite quarterback talent, and free agency isn't likely to yield many quarterbacks capable of throwing for 4,000 yards per year.
The good news is that the Raiders have the second-most salary cap space in football, so they could certainly afford to get their man if he becomes available.
Would the Raiders be a good fit for Johnson? And how much influence is Brady going to have over the entire hiring process?
Related: NFL Fans Stunned By Ben Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders Rumor
