Report: Raiders fire head coach Dennis Allen

The Oakland Raiders have reportedly fired head coach Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start to the 2014 season.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Sep 29, 2014

The Oakland Raiders have fired head coach Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start to the 2014 season, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer. Glazer reported the team called Allen on Monday to inform him of its decision.

The Raiders lost to the Miami Dolphins Sunday in London 38-14 to fall to 0-4. Allen has a career NFL head-coaching record of 8-28 in over two seasons with the Raiders.

Glazer’s report marks the second time in 24 hours Allen has reportedly been fired. Associated Press reporter Terry Collins Sunday mistakenly tweeted, and then deleted, that Allen had been fired. He later retracted the report and said he had no information on the story and was not at any point covering the Raiders coaching search.

Raiders’ owner Mark Davis has considered firing the beleaguered Allen multiple times during his tenure with the Raiders, according to CBS Sports Jason LaCanfora, who reported Sunday that unnamed sources close to the team would “not be surprised in (sic) Davis made a coaching change in the bye week…should the team fail to perform well.”

Oakland Raiders Epic Moments

Jan. 9, 1977

Making the franchise's second championship appearance in Super Bowl XI, the Raiders looked for their first title. Under the guidance of coach John Madden and steady play of quarterback Ken Stabler, Oakland prevented the Vikings from achieving a Super Bowl win in their fourth attempt in eight seasons, prevailing handily, 32-14.

Jan. 22, 1984

After relocating to Los Angeles following the 1981 championship season, the Raiders were back in the Super Bowl just a few years later and faced Joe Gibbs' favored defending Super Bowl champion Redskins. In what is remembered as "Black Sunday," the Silver and Black jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead and never looked back. Marcus Allen was named the game's MVP after racing to two touchdowns and a then-record 191 total yards, and Los Angeles took Super Bowl XVIII, 38-9.

Dec. 21, 1974

The Raiders hosted the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Dolphins in an AFC Divisional playoff. Down 26-21 with two minutes to go, Ken Stabler drove his team 68 yards down the field, somehow finding running back Clarence Davis in the end zone through a "sea of hands" from Miami defenders to take the lead and eventually the win, 28-26.

Jan. 4, 1981

Under frigid conditions in a divisional playoff at Cleveland Stadium, the Raiders were up 14-12 with less than a minute in the game, but the favored Browns in field goal range. Rather than attempt a kick because the field was frozen, Cleveland's quarterback called Red Right 88 and went for the touchdown. Raiders safety Mike Davis intercepted the ball in the end zone, sending the Raiders to the AFC Championship, and then Super Bowl XV, where they defeated the Eagles for their second title in five seasons.

Jan. 25, 1981

Jim Plunkett, given up for washed up only a season earlier, throws for 261 yards and three TDs, and linebacker Rod Martin registers a Super Bowl-record three interceptions as the Raiders pound the favored Eagles 27-10. Oakland becomes the first wild-card team since the 1970 merger to win the Super Bowl.

Nov. 17, 1968

With only 65 seconds left in a heavyweight AFL slugfest against the Joe Namath-led Jets, the Raiders trailed 32-29. Suddenly NBC switched to its previously scheduled programming, the movie "Heidi," and few saw the thrilling conclusion of the game. The Raiders staked a torrid comeback, scoring on a Daryle Lamonica touchdown pass, followed by a fumbled Jets kickoff return for another Raiders score, and it was forever termed "The Heidi Game," many considering it the most memorable regular-season professional football game in history.

Possible early contenders for the job include offensive coordinator Greg Olsen, according to LaCanorfa. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano, a former head coach with the Miami Dolphins, could also take over. No replacement had been named as of Monday. The Raiders have a bye Sunday, providing the team a longer-than-usual in-season grace period during which to find a new head coach.

Oakland marked the first head coaching position of Allen’s career. The Raiders hired Allen from division-rival Denver, where Allen coordinated the Broncos’ defense in 2011.

Whomever the Raiders select will be the team’s 11th head coach in the past 19 years.

• PETER KING: Don't Ditch Dennis

- Will Green