The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping a blast from the past can help jumpstart their sputtering offense. Amid a frustrating five-game losing streak, the team is bringing back former head coach Norv Turner in an advisory role, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Turner, who coached the Raiders in 2004-05, brings a wealth of experience to a staff in desperate need of offensive answers. The 72-year-old has been a head coach for three NFL franchises and an offensive coordinator for seven others during his long career.
Shaking Up the Coaching Staff
The move comes on the heels of a major staff overhaul by head coach Antonio Pierce. Following a 41-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday that dropped the Raiders to 2-7, Pierce fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, and offensive line coach James Cregg.
Pierce said Monday that he would “use the next 24 to 48 hours” to decide on a new offensive play-caller. Turner’s son Scott, currently the Raiders’ pass game coordinator, is considered a leading candidate. The younger Turner previously served as Washington’s offensive coordinator from 2020-22.
A Staff Full of Experience
Norv Turner won’t be the only seasoned coach lending his expertise to the Raiders’ beleaguered staff. Pierce, in his first full season as an NFL head coach, has surrounded himself with veteran coaches:
- Assistant head coach Marvin Lewis spent 16 years as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals
- Senior offensive assistant Joe Philbin was head coach of the Miami Dolphins for four seasons
- Tom Coughlin, a consultant to Pierce, won two Super Bowls as head coach of the New York Giants
The hope is that this braintrust of coaching experience can help guide Pierce and the Raiders out of their current tailspin. At 2-7, the Raiders are quickly falling out of playoff contention in the competitive AFC West.
Fixing the Offense
There’s no question what Turner’s primary focus will be in his new role: injecting life into a Raiders offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in most major categories. Las Vegas is 26th in total offense (320.2 yards per game) and 28th in scoring offense (17.6 points per game).
Quarterback Mitch Daniels, acquired in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bears, has struggled in his first season as the Raiders’ starter. He’s completing just 58.4 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating of 75.6 ranks 33rd out of 34 qualified quarterbacks.
We’re not moving the ball consistently enough. Not executing at the level we need to,
Daniels told reporters after the loss to the Bengals.
Turner will be tasked with helping to get Daniels and the rest of the offense back on track. His track record suggests he’s up for the challenge. In his previous stint as Raiders head coach, Turner guided the team to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card playoff berth in his first season.
Offensive Mastermind
Over his long NFL career, Turner has earned a reputation as one of football’s sharpest offensive minds:
- As offensive coordinator in Dallas, he helped the Cowboys win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992-93
- As head coach in San Diego, he oversaw the NFL’s top-ranked offense behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers
- His offenses have ranked in the top 10 in yards nine times and in the top 10 in scoring seven times
Now the Raiders are hoping Turner can recapture some of that magic in Las Vegas. With playoff hopes fading fast and jobs potentially on the line, there’s little margin for error.
According to a team source, Turner watched the Raiders practice during training camp in August and spoke with owner Mark Davis. Those conversations may have laid the groundwork for Turner’s eventual hiring.
Davis is said to be unhappy with the Raiders’ performance and willing to make big changes to get the franchise back on track. Bringing in Turner is a sign of the owner’s urgency.
Turning the Season Around
Can Turner’s return mark a turning point for the 2024 Raiders? Historically, midseason coaching changes don’t often salvage lost seasons. But there is still time for Las Vegas to make a run in a jumbled AFC playoff picture.
Much will depend on how quickly Turner and the revised offensive staff can implement changes and get Daniels back to the level of play he showed in Chicago. If the offense can start living up to its potential, the Raiders have the defensive talent to make things interesting.
For now, all eyes will be on Turner and the Raiders’ offense coming out of the bye week. In a season marked by frustration and disappointment, Norv Turner’s return provides a rare spark of hope for the Silver and Black.
