Who is Rich Bisaccia? What to know about Raiders’ interim head coach replacing Jon Gruden

Jon Gruden out. Rich Bisaccia in.

The Raiders and Gruden parted ways Monday night — coincidentally, during “Monday Night Football” — in the midst of Gruden’s racist, homophobic and sexist email scandal. Gruden announced his resignation as the team’s head coach just over three years into a 10-year, $100 million contract.

While Las Vegas employs former NFL head coaches Gus Bradley, Tom Cable and Rod Marinelli on its staff, the front office opted to give Bisaccia, the special teams coordinator, a shot as the season enters Week 6. The Raiders are coming off a loss at the hands of the Bears, their second defeat in a row.

GRUDEN OUT: Coach resigns after damning emails leaked

Bisaccia is nearing two decades in the NFL, but he has never been at the helm of a coaching staff. He’ll get the rest of the season to show the Raiders and the league what he’s got.

Here’s what you need to know before Bisaccia takes over this weekend.

Who is Rich Bisaccia?

Bisaccia, 61, is a longtime NFL special teams coordinator. He has held that title with the Raiders since 2018 when Gruden returned to the franchise.

Prior to joining the now-departed Gruden, Bisaccia had lengthy stops with other NFL franchises, including the Buccaneers (2002-10, also under Gruden) and the Cowboys (2013-17 under Jason Garrett). He also had a two-year stint with the Chargers between 2011 and 2012 under Norv Turner.

A New York native, Bisaccia made several stops in the college ranks before arriving in the NFL in 2002. He began his coaching career in 1983 at Wayne State, where he filled several different roles. He also made stops at South Carolina, Clemson and Ole Miss before going to the pros. 

Bisaccia has fostered a reputation of being a very smart special teams mind, as his units are typically ranked in the top half of the league. 

The neophyte head coach has a tough mountain to climb: The Raiders have playoff expectations in a loaded AFC West and sit in front of the stumbling Chiefs (2-3), but they’re behind the Chargers (4-1) and alongside the Broncos (3-2).

Bisaccia will make his head coaching debut vs. division rival Denver on the road Sunday.

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