Sometimes, a struggling enterprise may, in desperation, adopt an idea that is so unconventional that it just might work. Consider that Pete Carroll, age 73, is taking over as Raiders head coach. So too is he bringing his former Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Geno Smith, with him to Vegas. Carroll is a proven NFL futures Odds winner. To show, his resume includes two Super Bowl appearances and one championship. Carroll has the demeanor and enthusiasm of a man half his age. Previously, Antonio Pierce was canned after a 4-13 record in 2024.
2025 SBG NFL Futures Las Vegas Raiders
| Odds to Win Super Bowl Championship: | +10000 |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win AFC: | +5000 |
| Odds to Win AFC West Division: | +1600 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 6.5 |
2025 Las Vegas Raiders Schedule
- Week 1: Sept. 7 at New England Patriots
- Week 2: Sept. 15 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 3: Sept. 21 at Washington Commanders
- Week 4: Sept. 28 vs. Chicago Bears
- Week 5: Oct. 5 at. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 6: Oct. 12 vs. Tennessee Titans
- Week 7: Oct. 19 at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 8: BYE
- Week 9: Nov. 2 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 10: Nov. 6 at Denver Broncos
- Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 13: Nov. 30 at Chargers
- Week 14: Dec. 7 vs. Broncos
- Week 15: Dec. 14 at Eagles
- Week 16: Dec. 21 at Houston Texans
- Week 17: Dec. 27 or 28 vs. New York Giants
- Week 18: Jan. 3 or 4 vs. Chiefs
In 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders were forced to part ways with head coach Jon Gruden. Following a 3-2 start because of Gruden’s private emails, Gruden’s emails were deemed offensive by the NFL and corporate thought police. Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia was promoted and led the Raiders to their first offshore bookmaker playoff season since 2016. And it was just the second since 2002. Subsequently, his reward was to be kicked to the curb for Josh McDaniels, who did not last two years before being bounced after a 3-5 start in 2023.
Las Vegas underwent as much change this 2025 NFL futures offseason as any team in the NFL. Hence, it should be a much-improved team in 2025. Upgrading the quarterback alone should be worth a few wins. Thus, it can move the Raiders in a significantly more competitive position.
Furthermore, notable moves include retaining Maxx Crosby and drafting Ashton Jeanty, among other notable additions. Correlate that there’s quite a bit to like here. But it’s hard not to wonder about the longer-term viability of anything the team has done. Carroll is 73 years old and wasn’t going to oversee a rebuild. Smith will be 35 in October.
Las Vegas Raiders Team History
Namely, Al Davis took over as head coach and general manager in 1963. And then, as a rookie, I improved the Raiders from 1-13 to 10-4. Davis changed the team colors to silver and black, creating a team in his image.
However, the final years of the Davis era were marked by sadness and pathos. The Raiders turned into consistently big losers and played before a dilapidated and half-empty Oakland Coliseum. Accordingly, when Al Davis passed away, the team was inherited by his son, Mark. Knowing he needed a boost in revenue to survive, Mark Davis relocated the team to Las Vegas.