Josh McDaniels has been out of Las Vegas for quite some time. However, the former Raiders head coach is still catching heat from players who were part of his short-lived but disastrous tenure.
Johnathan Abram Calls Out Josh McDaniels for Ruining the Raiders
Former Raiders safety Johnathan Abram took a shot at McDaniels while going past the Allegiant Stadium. He shared a picture of the stadium on via a story on his Instagram account and did not hold back while talking about his former head coach.
“I miss playing inside you,” Abram wrote. “Josh McDaniels ruined everything we built! He should be arrested for sabotaging the organization and going to NE.”
Josh McDaniels inherited a playoff team. Less than two years later, the culture was in shambles, the locker room was divided, and the roster was gutted.
When former players are still talking about the damage he did, it’s hard to call it anything but one of the worst coaching… pic.twitter.com/YM049Q1lhQ
— Kenny King Jr (@KennyKing_Jr) June 25, 2026
This is not an isolated feeling towards McDaniels, as many of the Raiders players from that roster were happy when his firing was announced. Also, Abram was among the players released after McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler began reshaping the roster.
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The Raiders entered the 2022 season with plenty of optimism after finishing 10-7 and earning a playoff berth the previous year. They even won the final four regular-season games before falling to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round.
In the postseason, players backed Rich Bisaccia to become the team’s full-time head coach. Instead, owner Mark Davis hired McDaniels, and the decision backfired handsomely. The Raiders won just six games in McDaniels’ first season, and he was fired midway through the 2023 NFL season.
McDaniels finished with a 9-16 record in Las Vegas. Davis also dismissed general manager Dave Ziegler and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi.
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McDaniels’ exit was apparently welcomed by several players. Davante Adams, who reportedly clashed with the coach during their time together, appeared in much better spirits following the firing, jokingly mocking the media while shooting a mini basketball in the locker room.
As the 2026 NFL season inches closer, the Raiders have found hope. The franchise has not posted a winning record since its playoff run in 2021, but there is renewed optimism around under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders are expected to open the season with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins under center, but the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft is viewed as the franchise quarterback in the long term.
The front office has also addressed roster holes in the offseason. Center Tyler Linderbaum and linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker are the most notable free agent signings.
However, Kubiak will have his work cut out for him as the Raiders face one of the league’s toughest schedules after drawing seven playoff teams from last season.
For now, the Raiders are hoping the focus remains on what’s ahead rather than one of the most disappointing coaching tenures in franchise history.