In recent weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders faced the challenge of replacing coaches on their staff who hadn’t even coached a game for the team. Despite initial expectations that Kliff Kingsbury would take the offensive coordinator position, he backed out, leading to the need for a replacement. Additionally, running backs coach DeShaun Foster departed for the head coaching position at UCLA, his alma mater. This departure prompted the Raiders to swiftly find a replacement, and Coach Antonio Pierce, known for assembling a staff of former NFL players turned coaches, made another strategic hire in Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams.
Foster and Williams share common ground as both were accomplished running backs in their college days and had respectable NFL careers. Williams, drafted by former Raiders Coach Jon Gruden during Gruden’s tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, played seven seasons in the NFL, amassing over 4,000 rushing yards. Transitioning to coaching after his playing career, Williams started as a graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia. In 2019, he joined Auburn University as the running backs coach under Gus Malzan, retaining the position through coaching changes. When Bryan Harsin was dismissed as Auburn’s head coach, Williams took on the role of interim head coach, achieving a 2-2 record.
Now, the Raiders look to Williams to guide their running backs group, which may undergo significant changes in the upcoming season.
