When Ben Johnson was considering taking the head coaching position for the Las Vegas Raiders, it caught everybody by surprise.
The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was the top name on the coaching market, and the Raiders were considered by many to be one of the less desirable openings available.
However, as reports swirled that Johnson was the favorite for the Raiders, fans understandably became excited by the prospect.
That is exactly why when news of Johnson becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears came in on Tuesday, it came as a surprise to the Raiders and their fanbase.
While Chicago was admittedly the better situation to walk into as a prospective head coach, Johnson was being hyped up so much that it felt almost inevitable. Unfortunately, the Raiders were the ones left at the altar.
Among those surprised by the decision was Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who still waits for his next head coach to be named.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was surprised,” Crosby said on his podcast “The Rush.”
“It caught me off guard. It seemed like everything was trending in that direction. At the end of the day, like I said, I’m focused on where my feet are at, getting healthy, controlling what I can control and we’ll see what all happens in general. It was definitely a little curveball. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Crosby was a major advocate of Antonio Pierce becoming head coach in 2023, meaning the Raiders were already on tenuous ground with their defensive stalwart. Now, with the team having to scramble for a backup plan, the relationship now runs the risk of being strained further.
Crosby spoke of the general eerie feeling in the Raiders locker room last week, and that feeling likely got stronger with Johnson’s rejection. Between that, having no guaranteed money left on his deal and the general lack of on-field success, there are valid concerns that Crosby could request a trade at any time.
The Raiders will have to handle this issue quickly, before Crosby’s growing concerns transform into discontent.
