The Raiders are in the final stages of assembling their coaching staff under new head coach Antonio Pierce, with the quarterbacks coach position being one of the few remaining vacancies. The team has been actively searching for a candidate and, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they are closing in on a potential hire.

Fowler reports that former University of Kentucky offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello is currently the frontrunner for the open position with the Raiders. Scangarello, a veteran offensive coach, has reportedly been in discussions with the team this week, indicating that a deal may be in the works.

Scangarello has been involved in coaching since 1998, starting as a graduate assistant at UC Davis. He has worked at various college institutions, eventually becoming co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at UC Davis. He also gained experience in the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Raiders in 2009, and has held positions at other college and NFL teams. His most recent coaching role was at Kentucky in 2022.

If selected, Scangarello could potentially reunite with quarterbacks he has coached in the past, and would also be responsible for mentoring second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell through his first offseason as the presumed starter.