Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels watches players warm up before an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Allegiant Stadium Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 | 3:09 p.m.
The Raiders’ firing of Josh McDaniels in October appears justified by the players themselves.
McDaniels was graded as the worst coach in the NFL, according to the NFL Players Association’s annual report card survey released Wednesday.
The Raiders graded McDaniels a ‘D,’ the only team to give such a mark to their coach. The next team above, the Washington Commanders, gave a ‘C’ grade for now-fired coach Ron Rivera.
According to the report, only 39% of players felt McDaniels was efficient with his time. McDaniels was ranked least likely to listen to his locker room.
McDaniels, hired in January 2022 by signing a six-year, $60 million contract, was fired — along with general manager Dave Ziegler — on Oct. 31 following a 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. McDaniels was 9-16 in a year-and-a-half with the Raiders and was replaced by Antonio Pierce.
The former NFL linebacker went 5-4 as the Raiders’ interim coach before being named the full-time head coach on Jan. 19.
Many areas involving the Raiders’ facility received high marks. Their locker room (A-minus) and training room (B-plus) were both graded the fifth best in the league. The weight room was graded an A-plus, good for third best.
Players gave owner Mark Davis a B-plus (8.9/10) based on his investment into the facilities.
The report says 1,706 players across all 32 teams were polled. That averages to 53 players, a full roster for each team.
According to the report, had McDaniels received an average score compared to other coaches, the Raiders would have been in the top five of this year’s rankings.
The Raiders were ranked third last year, but head coach was not a grade provided in 2023. That report stated McDaniels “is less likely to listen to his players and keeps them for longer hours than other head coaches around the league.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on X at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
