sad news for Raiders

Despite deep ties, mutual

Yee is a long-time NFL power broker, with Tom Brady as his most famous client. The former NFL player is in the process of purchasing a minority stake in the Raiders from owner Mark Davis. Brady already has a stake in Davis’ WNBA Las Vegas Aces.

Brady’s growing business relationship and friendship with Davis almost certainly indicate that the former quarterback will have some say in the Raiders’ coaching search. Add in his connection to Harbaugh — they both played at Michigan and now share the same agent — and it’s easy to make the connection.

admiration, and numerous opportunities for the Raiders and Yee is a long-time NFL power broker, with Tom Brady as his most famous client. The former NFL player is in the process of purchasing a minority stake in the Raiders from to collaborate over the years, the timing never seemed to be right for him to coach the team.

That could soon change.

The former San Francisco 49ers coach has his Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoffs championship game. But his actions behind the scenes indicate that he wants to return to the NFL and is interested in the Raiders.

Harbaugh recently hired Don Yee as his new agent, indicating that he is interested in a position in the NFL

The Raiders, who finish their season against the Broncos on Sunday, will give interim coach Antonio Pierce serious consideration. Pierce has led the Raiders to a 4-4 record since taking over for the fired Josh McDaniels. According to NFL rules, the Raiders must conduct an extensive coaching search following the season, which includes interviewing at least two minority candidates from outside their organization.

Davis has stated that he is willing to let the process guide his decision, but while Pierce has been impressive during his tenure, Harbaugh is the type of candidate who can change the dynamic.

The Raiders have been rumored to be interested in Harbaugh since Davis fired McDaniels on Halloween night, but it was unclear how interested Harbaugh was in leaving Michigan for the NFL. The hiring of Yee changes everything, and according to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation, Harbaugh to the Raiders is very much “in play.”

Harbaugh, whose wife is from Las Vegas, began his coaching career as an assistant with the Raiders in 2002 and spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach in Oakland. Harbaugh made an impression on Al Davis, the Raiders’ longtime owner and Mark’s father, during his brief tenure with the team.

“Al always respected him because he played. Al liked players,” the late Hall of Fame coach John Madden told the San Jose Mercury News in 2014. “He felt the guys that played would relate better to players. He also respected Jim because he was a tough guy, a smart guy, a grinder.”

The feeling was mutual, with Harbaugh telling the Mercury News in 2014 that he learned at the hip of Al Davis.

“The detail, listen to his knowledge, his wisdom, his history of the game … and the advancement of the modern-day passing game,” Harbaugh said. “I was so excited to hear what he was saying, and to go back to my office to write it down so I could remember it. I would hang on every word.” Harbaugh has enjoyed tremendous success since leaving the Raiders, specifically by rebuilding Stanford into a national power from 2007 to 2010 and then leading the 49ers to a 44-19-1 record from 2011 to 2014. His time in San Francisco included three playoff appearances and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Michigan is 88-25 under Harbaugh, including a 39-3 record in the past three seasons. His 2022 Wolverines went 13-0 before losing to Texas Christian in the CFP semifinals, and this season’s team is 14-0 and preparing to play Washington on Monday for the national championship. Mark Davis has remained a fan of Harbaugh and considers him a winner and difference-maker. He considered him for the Raiders’ coaching job in 2015 and 2022 before turning elsewhere.

But there’s growing speculation that things might be different this time around. Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.

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