Raiders Axe Special Teams Coach After Blunder-Filled Defeat

Raiders Axe Special Teams Coordinator After Special Teams Blunders Costly

Las Vegas, NV – The Las Vegas Raiders have fired Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon, marking yet another in-season coaching shakeup for the franchise. The move, announced Friday, comes on the heels of repeated special teams miscues that have directly contributed to several Raiders losses this season. Derius Swinton II, previously the assistant special teams coach, will take over as interim coordinator.

Raiders Axe Special Teams Coach After Blunder-Fill...

The firing underscores the pressure mounting on first-year head coach Pete Carroll to turn the team's fortunes around. While Carroll expressed "great respect" for McMahon and his career, he stated that the organization had decided to "move in a different direction." This decision highlights the urgency to address the consistently underperforming special teams unit.

The Raiders' struggles in this area

The Raiders' struggles in this area have been particularly glaring in three recent defeats. Most recently, a missed 48-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson in Thursday night's 10-7 loss to the Denver Broncos proved fatal, allowing Denver to run out the clock and secure the win. This followed a blocked game-winning field goal attempt in a 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on September 28th. Furthermore, a missed extra point in the previous week's 30-29 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars ultimately proved to be the difference.

Carlson, typically a reliable kicker, has been under immense scrutiny. While Coach Carroll acknowledged the pressure on Carlson, stating, "He has to kick better," the decision to fire McMahon suggests the issues extended beyond individual performance and reflected a systemic problem within the special teams unit's preparation and execution.

The Raiders' penchant for mid-season personnel changes has become a recurring theme. Dating back to 2017, the team has fired a head coach, coordinator, or general manager in every season except 2019 and 2022. Last season alone saw the dismissal of head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler, and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi.

McMahon was one of only two coordinators retained by Carroll from the previous coaching staff, the other being defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. This latest move signals a clear shift in strategy as the Raiders attempt to salvage their season and address persistent weaknesses that have plagued the team. The appointment of Swinton as interim coordinator offers a fresh perspective and a chance to revitalize the special teams unit, but whether he can effectively turn things around remains to be seen.