The Las Vegas Raiders are adding a former Super Bowl champion to their coaching staff. Head coach Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for many of the Patriots’ Super Bowl runs. He is bringing one former wide receiver onto his coaching staff to try and improve the special teams. Former wide receiver Danny Amendola is joining the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff.
Las Vegas Raiders: Danny Amendola Joining Coaching Staff
Amendola played 13 seasons in the NFL. He first worked with McDaniels in St. Louis before reuniting in 2013 with the Patriots. They won two Super Bowls together while in New England. Amendola bounced around the league for a while before retiring last July. He now joins a staff that is trying to have a bounce-back year after a disappointing 2022. He will be a coaching assistant focusing on the returners. McDaniels is hoping that his returning experience can rub off on his special teams unit.
Can The Raiders Compete In The AFC?
I like the Amendola hiring but does it move the needle for the Raiders? They are in one of the toughest divisions in football with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Denver should be better this year as well. The team lost Derek Carr and has not added many significant pieces outside of Carr’s replacement, Jimmy Garoppolo. McDaniels might be hoping that Danny Amendola can help the special teams create some points and help the Raiders team swing some games.
The Las Vegas Raiders are going to have an interesting season. It feels like Josh McDaniels is on the hot seat even though all of the news coming out of Vegas says that the team is completely behind the coach and what he is building. This is one team that will be interesting to watch in the 2023 season.