2018 Oakland Raiders season

The 2018 season was the Oakland Raiders' 49th in the National Football League (NFL), their 59th overall, their 24th since their return to Oakland, and their first under head coach Jon Gruden since his rehiring by the organization (fifth overall). The Raiders finished the season with a 4–12 record, failing to improve upon their previous season's record of 6–10, and their worst since 2014.

With a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13, the Raiders were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season. With their week 15 loss to the Bengals, the Raiders failed to improve their record from the previous season. The loss also secured their spot at last in the AFC West.

On December 10, the Raiders fired general manager Reggie McKenzie who had been with the Raiders since 2012.

This was the first time since 1999 that Sebastian Janikowski was not on the opening day roster, as his contract was not renewed following the previous season where he didn't play due to a back injury.

This was also the final season of Amari Cooper's "first" tenure in the silver and black, he would "go back to" the now-Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 season, but he retired without ever playing a game for them in their new location.

Although the league approved the Raiders' eventual relocation to Las Vegas on March 27, 2017, the team maintained its lease at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum and used the stadium for the 2018 season while the team's new stadium in Las Vegas was under construction. Initially in April 2017, the operators of the Coliseum stated they would be unwilling to sign a lease extension for the team to play at the stadium while their new venue in Las Vegas was being built; however by September of that year, the Coliseum operators expressed willingness to negotiate, but insisted on concessions to compensate for the million-dollar deficit the Coliseum runs by hosting Raiders games. Owner Mark Davis stated he preferred to stay in Oakland for the 2019 season but was considering other options, including Las Vegas's Sam Boyd Stadium, Berkeley's California Memorial Stadium, Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada; the San Francisco 49ers's Levi's Stadium and even the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, a venue thought to have been ruled out in 2014. Davis acknowledged that if fans failed to support the team similarly to the 1996 Houston Oilers, it could hasten the relocation. Team management also indicated they would relocate after 2018 if there were any lawsuits filed against the team; the city of Oakland sued the Raiders and all other teams in the league on December 11, 2018, however the Raiders remained in Oakland for the final year despite the lawsuit.

On January 6, 2018, the Raiders hired their former head coach, Jon Gruden, who returned to the Raiders and coaching from ESPN's Monday Night Football. Gruden received a 10-year, $100-million contract to return to the Raiders. Gruden last coached in the NFL in 2008 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and last coached the Raiders in 2001. At the press conference announcing the hiring of Gruden on January 9, Gruden announced that Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson had been hired as offensive coordinator, though Gruden would call plays, while former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was hired as the new defensive coordinator. Gruden also announced that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was hired to serve as special teams coordinator. On January 29, the Raiders named Brian Callahan, son of their former head coach Bill Callahan, as the new quarterbacks coach.

On September 1, 2018, the Raiders traded defensive star Khalil Mack along with their 2020 2nd round pick to the Chicago Bears for two first round picks (RB Josh Jacobs and CB Damon Arnette), a 2019 6th round pick, and a 2020 3rd round pick, after he had held out of training camp.

• The Raiders finished with the same overall record and strength of schedule as the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the 2017 season, and their selecting order was determined by way of a coin flip at the NFL Scouting Combine in March 2018; the Raiders lost the coin toss and received the 10th selection. Both teams rotated with the Miami Dolphins, receiving the 9th, 10th and 11th pick in each round.

• The Raiders traded their fifth-round selection (146th overall, S Tre Flowers) to Seattle in exchange for Seattle's sixth-round selection (192nd overall, T Jamil Demby) and running back Marshawn Lynch.

• The Raiders traded a sixth-round selection (210th overall, WR Braxton Berrios) and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson to New England in exchange for Kansas City's fifth-round selection (159th overall, WR Daurice Fountain).

• The Raiders traded a sixth-round selection (192nd overall, T Jamil Demby) and fullback Jamize Olawale to Dallas in exchange for Dallas's fifth-round selection (173rd overall, P Johnny Townsend).

• The Raiders were awarded four sixth-round compensatory picks (210th, 212th, 216th and 217th overall).

• Marcus Baugh, TE, Ohio State, released at the end of training camp.

• Saeed Blacknall, WR, Penn State, waived and made the practice squad.

• Jason Cabinda, LB, Penn State, released at the end of training camp.

• Alex Officer, C, Pittsburgh, released on May 17.

• Eddy Piñeiro, K, Florida, placed on injured reserve at the end of training camp.

• Nick Sharga, FB, Temple, released on May 7.

Source

Owner – Mark Davis President – Marc Badain Executive vice president/general counsel – Dan Ventrelle Interim general manager/director of college scouting – Shaun Herock Director of football administration – Tom Delaney Director of player personnel – Joey Clinkscales Assistant director of player personnel – Trey Scott Director of pro personnel – Dane Vandernat Assistant director of pro personnel – Von Hutchins Assistant director of college scouting – Brad Kaplan Head coaches

Head coach – Jon Gruden Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator – Rich Bisaccia Offensive coaches

Offensive coordinator – Greg Olson Quarterbacks – Brian Callahan Running backs – Jemal Singleton Wide receivers – Edgar Bennett Tight ends – Frank Smith Offensive line – Tom Cable Assistant offensive line – Lemuel Jeanpierre Offensive quality control – Nick Holz Offensive quality control – Tim Berbenich | | | Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Paul Guenther Defensive line – Mike Trgovac Assistant defensive line – Marco Coleman Linebackers – David Lippincott Defensive backs – Derrick Ansley Senior defensive assistant – Jim O'Neil Defensive quality control – Travis Smith Special teams coaches

Assistant special teams – Byron Storer Strength and conditioning

Head strength and conditioning – Vacant Strength and conditioning assistant – D'Anthony Batiste Strength and conditioning assistant – Deuce Gruden Strength and conditioning assistant – Kelsey Martinez Strength and conditioning assistant – Rick Slate |

28 Doug Martin 30 Jalen Richard 41 Keith Smith FB 33 DeAndré Washington Wide receivers (WR)

88 Marcell Ateman 17 Dwayne Harris 14 Keon Hatcher 82 Jordy Nelson 10 Seth Roberts Tight ends (TE)

84 Paul Butler 85 Derek Carrier 87 Jared Cook 86 Lee Smith 83 Darren Waller | | Offensive linemen (OL) 69 Denzelle Good G 65 Chaz Green G 61 Rodney Hudson C 63 Cameron Hunt G 79 Denver Kirkland G 77 Kolton Miller LT 71 Justin Murray LT 70 Kelechi Osemele G 75 Brandon Parker RT 68 David Sharpe T Defensive linemen (DL)

96 Kony Ealy DE 78 Justin Ellis DT 92 P. J. Hall DT 90 Johnathan Hankins DT 73 Maurice Hurst Jr. DT 99 Arden Key DE 97 Clinton McDonald DT 98 Frostee Rucker DE 57 Gabe Wright DT | | Linebackers (LB) 53 Jason Cabinda MLB 55 Marquel Lee MLB 50 Nicholas Morrow OLB 59 Tahir Whitehead OLB 58 Kyle Wilber OLB Defensive backs (DB)

37 Bené Benwikere CB 21 Gareon Conley CB 38 Rico Gafford CB 31 Marcus Gilchrist SS 25 Erik Harris SS 42 Karl Joseph FS 32 Dallin Leavitt FS 36 Montrel Meander CB 22 Rashaan Melvin CB 23 Nick Nelson CB Special teams (ST)

 8 Daniel Carlson K  5 Johnny Townsend P 47 Trent Sieg LS | | Practice squad 80 Saeed Blacknall WR 40 James Butler RB 46 Cayson Collins MLB 49 James Cowser OLB 18 Rashard Davis WR 35 Makinton Dorleant CB 16 Johnny Holton WR 64 Jamar McGloster RT  3 Nathan Peterman QB 44 Ryan Yurachek FB Reserve

12 Martavis Bryant WR (Susp.) 91 Shilique Calhoun DE (IR) 74 T. J. Clemmings RT (IR) 48 Andrew DePaola LS (IR) 76 Jon Feliciano G (IR) 29 Leon Hall CB (IR) 66 Gabe Jackson G (IR) 19 Brandon LaFell WR (IR) 24 Marshawn Lynch RB (IR) 23 Dexter McDonald CB (IR) 37 Tevin Mitchel CB (IR) 27 Reggie Nelson FS (IR)  6 Mike Nugent K (IR) 72 Donald Penn LT (IR/DFR)  9 Eddy Piñeiro K (IR) 93 Ahtyba Rubin DT (IR) 93 Jacquies Smith DE (IR) 94 Eddie Vanderdoes DT (PUP) 34 Chris Warren III RB (IR) 20 Daryl Worley CB (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 20 reserve, 10 practice squad |

The Raiders' preseason opponents and schedule were released on April 11.

On January 11, the NFL announced that the Raiders will play host to the Seattle Seahawks in a London Game in London, England. The game site, originally slated for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was later moved to Wembley Stadium. This marked the fourth time in five seasons in which the Raiders played a game outside the United States, as well as their second visit to London (the other being 2014).

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text

During the game, tight end Jared Cook set a new franchise record for most receiving yards in a game by a Raiders tight end finishing the night with 180 yards on nine catches. The previous record was held by Todd Christensen with 173 yards on November 20, 1986 against the San Diego Chargers. He was one of only six tight ends to ever record over 180 yards receiving since 1999. Quarterback Derek Carr threw three interceptions in a game for his second time in his career, the previous time was against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015.

NFL London Games

This game was the first game for the Raiders without wide receiver Amari Cooper, as the Dallas Cowboys traded their 2019 1st round draft pick in exchange for Cooper the week before the game.

With the brutal loss the Raiders dropped to 2-10 and they were eliminated from playoff contention.

With the loss the Raiders dropped to 3-11 and secured dead last in the AFC West.

• Official website