ClutchPoints
There are moments in a franchise’s life when the safe choice is no longer an option. When credibility is gone, patience is thin, and the margin for error has evaporated. The Las Vegas Raiders are staring straight into one of those moments right now. With Tom Brady deeply embedded in the organization’s ownership structure and influence, the Raiders are no longer just searching for a head coach. They are searching for legitimacy. If there is one move that would instantly signal seriousness, ambition, and a refusal to accept mediocrity, it’s this: going all-in on John Harbaugh.
The Raiders’ 2025 NFL season was a historic failure that culminated in a horrible 3-14 record. On the bright side, that secured them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. First-year head coach Pete Carroll was fired immediately after the season ended. It followed a campaign defined by offensive futility and weekly dysfunction. Las Vegas finished last in the NFL in points scored per game. The quarterback position imploded as Geno Smith led the league with 17 interceptions, many of which came in high-leverage moments.
Beyond the numbers, the Raiders looked like a team without structure or identity. Games unraveled early. Defensive effort waned late. Confidence disappeared fast. The season extended the franchise’s playoff victory drought to 23 seasons. It marked their fourth consecutive losing campaign. Sure, there were some genuine building blocks. They did have a productive running game and continued development from Brock Bowers. And yet, they were swallowed by a broader sense of organizational drift. It wasn’t just a bad season but another reminder that the Raiders have lost their way.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss why Tom Brady, Raiders absolutely should go after John Harbaugh as next head coach.
John Harbaugh was hired by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. He immediately transformed the franchise into one of the league’s most stable and respected organizations. Over 18 seasons, he compiled a 180-113 regular-season record. That made him the winningest coach in Ravens history. His teams reached the postseason 12 times, advanced to four AFC Championship Games, and captured a Super Bowl title following the 2012 season.
Harbaugh was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2019. He just then guided Baltimore to a dominant regular season built around a then-unprecedented offense. Since 2018, the Ravens won the AFC North four times behind two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Yes, Baltimore developed a reputation for falling short of expectations in certain playoff runs. Still, Harbaugh posted a respectable 13-11 postseason record. He consistently kept the Ravens among the league’s contenders.
When Baltimore parted ways with Harbaugh in January 2026, it wasn’t because the program collapsed. It was because expectations had shifted. Playoff results just no longer aligned with regular-season success. That distinction matters because it separates failure from stagnation.
Okay, fine, on paper, this makes no sense. Harbaugh is 64. The Raiders are broken....
