Oakland Raiders Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen

The Oakland Raiders fired head coach Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start. Allen had an overall 8-28 win-loss record during his two-year stint with the team.

The Oakland Raiders fired head coach Dennis Allen on Sept. 30. 

The Raiders parted ways with Allen after an 0-4 start. FOX Sports‘ Jay Glazer first broke the news:

“Dennis Allen is out as Oakland Raiders head coach, a source told FOX Sports. 

“Allen was fired after the team returned from a 38-14 loss to Miami in London that dropped the Raiders to 0-4. Rather than tell Allen in person or on the cross-atlantic flight, a source tells FOX Sports that Allen was fired Monday night via telephone. 

“It wasn’t immediately known who will assume the head coaching position on an interim basis. 

“Allen, 42, was a rising assistant as Denver’s defensive coordinator when hired by Oakland in 2012. Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie faced the daunting task of trying to win after inheriting a roster with subpar talent and salary-cap problems following the death of team owner Al Davis.

“Mark Davis, who took control of the team following his father’s passing, initially expressed patience with Allen and McKenzie under those circumstances. Davis, though, made it clear during the offseason that he expected better results in 2014 after consecutive 4-12 records.

“Instead, the Raiders have failed to score more than 14 points in any game this season while starting a rookie quarterback in Derek Carr. The low point came Sunday as the Dolphins (2-2) scored 38 unanswered points in the first three quarters. Carr is now expected to miss time after announcing he had suffered a sprained knee and ankle against (the) Miami (Dolphins).

“The quarterback position proved especially problematic for Allen. He was forced to use five different starters in a 36-game span following McKenzie’s ill-fated trades for veterans Matt Flynn (2013) and Matt Schaub (2014) as well as the decision to deal Carson Palmer to Arizona in the 2013 offseason. Palmer has an 11-6 starting record with the (Arizona) Cardinals.

“The Raiders haven’t made the playoffs or posted a winning record since the 2002 season.”   

Oakland Raiders fire HC Dennis Allen (via @RapSheet): http://t.co/KAcymeuKqE pic.twitter.com/1mnlFk1zMj— NFL (@nfl) September 30, 2014

ESPN’s Bill Williamson reported on Sept. 30 that the shortlist for the Raiders’ interim head coaching position includes the likes of offensive line coach Tony Sparano, offensive coordinator Greg Olson and senior offensive assistant Al Saunders:

“The Oakland Raiders have fired coach Dennis Allen, the team announced Monday night. 

“Allen was 8-28 as Oakland’s coach. He was fired after the Raiders, who retooled their roster this offseason, started 0-4. 

“An announcement on the interim coach will come Tuesday, with offensive line coach Tony Sparano expected to be the first assistant offered the interim job. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson and, as a source tells ESPN’s Ed Werder, senior offensive assistant Al Saunders are other possible options. 

“Oakland as lost an NFL-high 10 straight dating back to last November and is 0-4 for the first time since 2006 when it finished with the worst record in the NFL. The final straw for Allen was an embarrassing 38-14 loss to Miami on Sunday in London. The Raiders are on their bye week.

“The failure to be competitive was what doomed Allen. Oakland owner Mark Davis, who took control of the franchise when his legendary father, Al, died in November 2011, was on the record saying he was tired of the team losing in lopsided fashion. That didn’t change this season. The Raiders lost by 20 or more points in nine of Allen’s 36 games as a coach. 

“The Raiders were 8-8 in the two seasons before Allen became coach. Firing Allen is a major pockmark for Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie. Allen was his first hire after being picked to succeed Al Davis as the football decision-maker in Oakland in January 2012.

“A source told ESPN that Allen was told he was being fired in a phone call from Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie.

“Allen, 42, was Denver’s defensive coordinator before being hired in Oakland. Now, he is another in a long line of former Oakland coaches. Al Davis was famous for hiring and firing coaches. Allen was the Raiders’ seventh coach since they traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay after the 2001 season. It’s the most in the NFL in that span.

“FoxSports.com first reported Allen’s firing earlier Monday night.” 

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