Rookie Aidan O’Connell became a fan favorite with a strong preseason performance, but no one knew if he would get a chance to play for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2023 NFL season.
After Mark Davis parted ways with former head coach Josh McDaniels, O’Connell started the rest of the way and picked up some good wins. In the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos, O’Connell led the Raiders to victory with 244 yards and two touchdowns.
While Las Vegas missed the postseason again, real progress was made on both ends of the floor, and O’Connell insisted on staying on the roster. Interim coach Antonio Pierce gave O’Connell a chance to prove himself, and the former fourth-round pick regained his confidence.
However, O’Connell had to decide his future with the team as it was unclear whether Pearce would retain his position as head coach. “Obviously it’s been a whirlwind the last few weeks,” O’Connell said. “Rookie seasons are tough and long. Well, considering everything that happened, it sure was a little crazy.
But like I said, I really appreciate the opportunity to play. It’s not an opportunity that many men get, so I tried to make the most of it. But I felt supported by the PA and other team members. We will see what happens next.
It’s something I can’t control. But again, thinking back on this season makes me proud of our players.”Pierce has made a great case to become the head coach in Las Vegas, but Davis has some big free agent coaches to watch.
If Pierce doesn’t get the job, it could be bad news for O’Connell. Because he was not taken care of by the new regime.For now, fans will just have to wait and see what direction the Silver and Black take this offseason.
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