HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was fired Friday after yet another performance in which the kicking team helped cost Las Vegas a victory.
Derius Swinton II will become the interim coordinator. He was the assistant special teams coach.
Making an in-season coaching change has become a nearly annual activity for the Raiders. Going back to 2017, they have fired a head coach, coordinator or general manager each season, except 2019 and 2022. They even made multiple changes in 2023, letting go coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi.
McMahon was one of two coordinators first-year coach Pete Carroll retained from last season's staff. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was the other.
“I have a great amount of respect for Tom and the work that he has done in this league, but we have decided to move in a different direction,” Carroll said in a statement.
The Raiders can point to three losses in which special teams were critical to those defeats.
That includes Thursday night's 10-7 loss at Denver in which Daniel Carlson missed what would have been a tying 48-yard field goal with 4:26 left. The Broncos then ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Carlson also had what would have been the winning field goal blocked in a 25-24 loss to Chicago on Sept. 28, and missed an extra point in Sunday's 30-29 overtime loss to Jacksonville that proved to be crucial.
He is in the final season of his contract.
“He has to kick better," Carroll said after Thursday's game. "It kills him, too. He wants to make every one of those, and he has to kick better.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
-
Josh Blackwell blocks field goal to preserve Bears' rally for 25-24 win
Josh Blackwell blocked a 54-year-old field-goal attempt by Daniel Carlson in the final minute to preserve a fourth-quarter rally led by Caleb Williams, and the Bears stunned the Raiders on Sunday.
Charles Snowden’s full-circle moment against the Bears
Charles Snowden went undrafted in 2021, starting his career with the Bears. Now, the Raiders defensive end reflects on perseverance, politics, and community ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Chicago.
Raiders honor Latino fans during Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations
Raiders celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring Latino fans who've supported the Silver and Black through every city since 1960.
Marcus Mariota and a reconfigured Commanders offense run past the Raiders 41-24
The Commanders produced 174 yards on the ground in the first half alone, and Washington beat the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 on Sunday.
