Raiders Fire General Manager, Reggie McKenzie

by
Former Writers
December 11, 2018

James Anderson via Flickr

Oakland Parts Ways with General Manager Reggie McKenzie

After seven seasons with the Raiders, general manager Reggie McKenzie was informed today during a meeting with his scouts that he was longer apart of the organization, per NFL insider Ian Rapaport. McKenzie was given the opportunity to say for the remainder of the season but declined.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1072203816471314432

McKenzie was the leader of the Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper trades that happened earlier this season. While the Mack trade has been heavily criticized, there are mixed reviews on the Cooper trade.

McKenzie’s History with the Raiders

McKenzie was hired at the end of the 2012 season to take the place of GM. The position had been temporarily filled by the head coach at the time, Hue Jackson who was fired in 2012. McKenzie planned to work with owner Mark Davis to reconstruct the franchise.

The reconstruction plan was to get rid of all players that carry big contracts so they could start fresh with a younger and more talented team. The team’s goal was to acquire four key players a year in the draft and through free agency to build a solid roster from the ground up.

Part of the reconstruction included drafting young quarterback prospect, Derek Carr. Since drafting Carr in 2014, the organization hasn’t had as much success as they had hoped. They’ve only had one winning season in 2016 when they went 12-4. In Week 16 Carr broke a bone in his foot and was unable to play in the Wild Card game. The Raiders were then unable to make it past the first round of the playoffs.

McKenzie’s 2018 Season

Davis and McKenzie fired three-year coach Jack Del Rio after the 2017 season and brought in former Raiders’ head coach Jon Gruden. They signed Gruden to a ten-year, $100 million contract, hoping to bring some much-needed change to the organization. Yet, the team is only 3-10 so far this season without a chance at the playoffs.

Additionally, McKenzie made several trades that have turned the locker room upside down. As mentioned, McKenzie organized the Mack and Cooper trades with reconstruction in mind. Mack was traded before the regular season, Cooper right before the trade deadline. It was done to acquire more draft picks to fix a roster that wasn’t getting it done. The dividends of that trade have yet to been felt.

Gruden and McKenzie’s relationship wasn’t horrible but known to be a little rocky. Gruden brought in his own scouting team and hired all new people for the front office. This showed that Reggie McKenzie would soon be gone and his decisions were no longer needed.

Where the Raiders Go from Here

The Raiders are in the midst of hiring new front office executives. Gruden will most likely be behind the hiring of the new executive since he has had a say in all new additions to the team.

Since this franchise has had people fill that role of general manager as well as take on other roles, GM won’t necessarily be the role filled. Gruden and Davis will need to find their perfect person missing from this team in the offseason.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1072233571849515008

Owner Mark Davis has made it clear that Gruden has the final say in all decisions with this team. He has his faith in Gruden’s rebuild idea and strategy. It’s assumed he will bring in someone he knows for the vacant position. Doing this means digging into Gruden’s past with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Some names the pop up are the head executive for the Washington Redskins Bruce Allen. As well as Mark Dominik previously from the Bucs and Jimmy Ray who worked with the Chargers franchise back in San Diego.