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Josh McDaniels refuses to quit his former quarterbacks

By Sayre Bedinger

NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 17: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels talks with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer #2 of the New England Patriots during a week two preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Patriots defeated the Titans 22-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 17: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels talks with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer #2 of the New England Patriots during a week two preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Patriots defeated the Titans 22-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels simply can’t quit his former quarterbacks. And for whatever reason, they can’t quit him either. Well, I guess that also depends somewhat on how you look at the Tom Brady situation. McDaniels came to the Las Vegas Raiders to be their head coach, incidentally not his first head coaching gig since he was unceremoniously fired by the Denver Broncos in 2010.

Since McDaniels was brought aboard by the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason, he’s been adding his former quarterbacks at a torrid pace.

Josh McDaniels adding former Patriots QBs with Las Vegas Raiders

In no particular order, let’s look at players who crossed paths with McDaniels in New England at the quarterback position who have been employed by the Raiders now at one time or another…

Last offseason, the Raiders picked up Garrett Gilbert for a time, and Gilbert was with the Patriots in 2021. Although that’s a minor move and Gilbert didn’t even make the Raiders’ 2022 roster, he was with the team in the offseason.

McDaniels then swung a trade for backup QB Jarrett Stidham with his old pals in New England, sending a late-round pick to the Pats in exchange for the former fourth-round pick out of Auburn. As fate would have it, McDaniels would actually make the call late last season to pull the plug on Derek Carr and insert Stidham into the starting lineup. That would serve as a sign of things to come.

Everyone seemed on board with the idea that the Raiders were preparing and planning to dump Derek Carr this offseason (which they did) to sign the legendary Tom Brady. Unfortunately for Josh McDaniels, he couldn’t land that big of a former protegé so he ultimately settled for Jimmy Garoppolo, once considered the heir apparent to Tom Brady with the Patriots.

The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a big-money contract, and now he’ll be expected to lead the Raiders back to the postseason. Although their paths never crossed in New England, Garoppolo is going to have help in the quarterback room from yet another former Josh McDaniels disciple.

Brian Hoyer signed a two-year deal to join the Raiders as the team’s backup QB, although we’ll see what happens for them in the 2023 NFL Draft.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with wanting your own guys in the NFL. Sometimes you just work really well with someone and you know you’ve got a winning formula with that person. In any industry, who you know can be important. For the network of former Josh McDaniels disciples, it’s proven to be of tremendous importance.

He’s already acquired four of his former quarterbacks as the head honcho with the Raiders. Of course, the fact that Raiders GM Dave Ziegler also has Patriots history and familiarity there helps push this process along. McDaniels not only knows exactly what he wants out of his quarterbacks, but he targets players at the position who know what they need to do to “do their job” within his offense.

Perhaps Derek Carr took a few too many liberties while doing his job for McDaniels’ liking.

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