Pete Carroll has made a change to his coaching staff.
Less than 24 hours after a rough showing from the Raiders' third phase of the game, Carroll has fired special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported.
The team has since announced McMahon's firing and elevated assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II to coordinator on an interim basis.
"Earlier today, we made the tough decision to relieve Tom McMahon of his duties as special teams coordinator," head coach Pete Carroll said in a statement released by the Raiders. "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. ... We are grateful for Tom and his work here with the Raiders and wish him nothing but the best moving forward."
Amid a season filled with frustrating mistakes, Thursday night's 10-7 loss to the AFC West rival Broncos served as the tipping point regarding special teams. Punter AJ Cole had a punt blocked in the third quarter, leading to Denver's go-ahead field goal from 32 yards out, while kicker Daniel Carlson missed what would have been a game-tying 48-yard field goal wide right, wasting the Raiders' best scoring opportunity and their last chance of extending and/or winning the game.
The miscues didn't pile up on Thursday night alone. Cole's blocked punt -- which came after he'd masterfully dropped one punt at the Denver 2-yard line and another at the 1-yard line in the first half -- was his second blocked attempt of the season. In Week 3, the Raiders allowed Commanders rookie Jaylin Lane to return a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. One week later, they had their potential game-winning field goal blocked by Chicago on the final play of Las Vegas' heartbreaking home loss. Although it was negated by an otherwise inconsequential holding penalty, the Raiders also surrendered an opening kick-return touchdown in their blowout loss to the Colts in Week 5.
Whether it was a lack of coverage integrity, poor protection of the kicker and punter or the handful of penalties committed on special teams, Thursday night proved it was time for Carroll to make a change.
McMahon was a holdover from Josh McDaniels' staff, joining the Raiders in February of 2022 and retaining his job through the tenures of McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and halfway through the first season of Carroll's stint. He leaves Las Vegas in the midst of his fourth and final season with the team.
