National Football League

Raiders pick up pace on head coach search

Published Jan. 5, 2015 4:05 p.m. ET

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ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Raiders are picking up the pace on their coaching search, interviewing San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini and Indianapolis offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano confirmed Monday that Hamilton met with the Raiders the previous night after Indianapolis' playoff win over Cincinnati.

''I guess they had a get-together. That's all I know,'' he said.

Hamilton joined the Colts after Bruce Arians left for Arizona following the 2012 season. Since then, Hamilton has mentored Andrew Luck and led an offense that set single-season franchise records for total net yards (6,506) and net passing yards (4,894) in 2014. Indy's 458 points this season were the second most in Colts' history.

''You have success, that's what happens,'' Pagano said. ''You never want to lose great coaches and good people and all of that stuff.''

Hamilton also has ties to the Bay Area. Before coming to Indianapolis, he was the 49ers quarterbacks coach in 2006 and was an assistant at Stanford from 2010-12.

Indianapolis plays at Denver in the playoffs this weekend.

The Raiders also interviewed Mangini on Monday, a person with knowledge of the meeting said on condition of anonymity because the team is not releasing details on interviews.

Mangini has five years of head coaching experience, having spent three years with the New York Jets and two with Cleveland. He has been an assistant in San Francisco the past two years. Mangini has a 33-47 career record and made the playoffs once with the Jets.

The Raiders are seeking a full-time coach after firing Dennis Allen four games into last season. Interim coach Tony Sparano is also a candidate.

Oakland has previously interviewed Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and Philadelphia offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for the job, a person with knowledge of the search said. Seattle coach Pete Carroll told SiriusXM NFL Radio last week that Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell also interviewed for the job.

Bevell and Hamilton have no previous professional head coaching experience, while Mangini, Del Rio and Shurmur all have been head coaches in the NFL before. The Raiders have hired a coach with NFL head coaching experience only three times in their history with Joe Bugel, Norv Turner and Art Shell's second stint with the team.

Oakland has had eight coaches since the start of the 2003 season. The Raiders have not had a winning record or playoff berth in that span as the constant turnover has contributed to the struggles on the field.

The Raiders also reportedly interviewed Mike Shanahan, who coached the team in 1988-89 before being fired following disputes with late owner Al Davis. Davis refused to pay Shanahan the remainder of his contract when he was fired. Shanahan filed a grievance and won but Davis never paid him the money he was owed.

Shanahan went on to win two Super Bowl titles with Denver and spent four years as coach in Washington before being fired following the 2013 season. Shanahan has a 170-138 career record and has made the playoffs eight times.

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AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report

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