ITThe Las Vegas Raiders are making major changes to their organization. Through it all, interim general manager Champ Kelly has supported the Raiders.
Kelly, in particular, played a key role in finding Las Vegas’ next head coach. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Kelly has been so involved that some believe it’s a sign he could be in the running for a full-time general manager job.
Since the Raiders need a new general manager, it would make sense for that candidate to have a working relationship with whoever becomes the head coach. If two of Vegas’ biggest leaders don’t agree when a new era begins, Vegas will be in trouble. That’s why it’s so important that Kelly help lead the HC search.
Although he hasn’t been offered a full-time job, he knows exactly what Las Vegas is looking for. Rather than follow the Washington commanders’ approach of hiring a general manager rather than a head coach, the Raiders went ahead with Kelly as a member of the committee.Champ Kelly will join the Raiders in 2022, initially as assistant general manager.
Prior to Vegas, Kelly served as Associate Director of Professional Personnel for the Denver Broncos and Associate Director of Player Personnel for the Chicago Bears. He has served as an NFL executive since 2007 and was general manager of the Lexington Horsemen’s United Indoor Football team before joining the league.
Antonio Pierce has received a lot of support in his pursuit of the Raiders HC. Having Pierce means Las Vegas has roster continuity. Moving Kelly full-time looks like the Raiders are really starting to build.
