What next for Raiders after top coaching target chooses Bears?

The Raiders, in what amounted to a gut punch, missed out on their top coaching target Monday.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is set to become the next coach of the Bears, his agency Priority Sports announced.

The Raiders were willing to pay through the nose for the 38-year-old. They wanted Johnson to work alongside minority owner Tom Brady to choose the team’s next general manager.

But the one thing the Raiders couldn’t offer pushed Johnson to Chicago. The Bears have a talented young quarterback in Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Raiders’ future at the position remains unsettled.

The team holds the sixth pick in April’s draft, which could put the top two quarterback prospects — Shedeur Sanders of Colorado and Cam Ward of Miami (Florida) — out of reach. The Raiders’ existing options, including Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, didn’t inspire much confidence when given opportunities last season.

Johnson opted for a job with more certainty under center.

Back to square one?

The Raiders were disappointed by Johnson’s decision Monday. It forced them to regroup.

Former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who interviewed with the Raiders in-person Jan. 13, is viewed as one of the team’s top fallback plans.

Carroll brings plenty of experience, as he’s 170-120-1 in stints with the Seahawks, Jets and Patriots. He helped Seattle win Super Bowl 48 and reach Super Bowl 49.

Carroll also won a national championship at USC during a successful nine-year tenure. He is one of three coaches to win a title in the NFL and in college, along with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer.

Carroll’s primary drawback is his age. He will turn 74 in September, so he may not be a long-term solution for the Raiders or any other team interested in hiring him.

Carroll’s pitch to the team was expected to include ideas for a succession plan, however. He is also said to be fired up about the chance to coach again after he parted ways with the Seahawks following the 2023 season.

The other coaching candidates the Raiders have interviewed are former Jets coach Robert Saleh, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera.

The team is compliant with the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires clubs to interview at least two minority candidates in-person for prominent positions, and can name a coach whenever it’s ready.

GM search continues

The Raiders spent some of their time Monday interviewing general manager candidates. Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown and Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander were both in Las Vegas for in-person interviews.

The Raiders have also talked with Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark, who previously worked with Johnson and Glenn in Detroit, and Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek.

Spytek was a college teammate of Brady’s and was in Tampa Bay’s front office during Brady’s tenure with the team from 2020-22. The two both helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl 55.

The Raiders, after interviewing Brown and Alexander, are also compliant with the Rooney Rule for their general manager search.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.