Getsy, 39, who was sacked as offensive coordinator by the Chicago Bears last month, was among at least five applicants interviewed by the Raiders for the vacant offensive playcaller role. Kingsbury, former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, Pittsburgh Steelers receivers coach Mike Sullivan, and UCLA coach Chip Kelly were among those present. Van Pelt was appointed as the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator, while Kingsbury has been linked to the vacant Washington Commanders offensive coordinator role.

In his re-introduction press conference last month, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce stated that he expected “minimum 24 points” from a new offensive coordinator, after the Raiders averaged 19.5 points per game under former coach Josh McDaniels and interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree.

To average 24 points, the Raiders would need to score 408 points, a total they have only achieved three times since their 2002 Super Bowl season.

Pierce stated that a new offensive coordinator must be a teacher capable of “adjusting on the fly” during games.

“You’ve got to be able to run the football — play-action pass,” he remarked. “What are the Raiders known for? The vertical passing game, correct? We want to see shots from down the field. We want explosive plays. That has to be part of the creative process. You look at the shifts, the motions, and everything else that goes into it… just think of when [the] Raiders were playing very outstanding football, and that’s going to be your offensive coordinator, hopefully, as we move forward.”

Getsy embodies the run-first approach that Pierce and incoming general manager Tom Telesco value. The Bears topped the NFL in rushing in 2022 (177.3 yards per game), and they finished second in 2023 (141.1).

Getsy’s relationship with Bears quarterback Justin Fields could provide an interesting plot twist. Fields might be a trade target for the Raiders, who have the 13th overall pick and are expected to replace veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. While youngster Aidan O’Connell was useful as a backup, he was immovable in the pocket.

Getsy was fired in Chicago on January 10 after the club elected to restructure the staff while keeping coach Matt Eberflus for the 2024 season. The Chicago Bears ended 7-10, tied for last place in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Raiders, meanwhile, went 8-9, including a disappointing 31-12 Week 7 loss to Chicago with undrafted Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent (standing in for an injured Fields). The defeat resulted in McDaniels’ dismissal on October 31.

Under Pierce, who was moved from linebackers coach to interim coach, the Raiders finished 5-4, 3-1 in the AFC West, and gave the conference champion Kansas City Chiefs their most recent setback on Christmas Day.

Despite scoring 357 points, the Raiders’ quarterbacks had a total QBR of only 80.1.

In Chicago, player discontent with the Bears’ offense surfaced multiple times during the 2023 season, beginning in Week 3 when Fields cited “coaching” as the cause of his “robotic” performance. Wide receiver DJ Moore also stated that Chicago’s inability to produce consistent explosive plays contributed to their defeat.

“The growth and development of the offense, to me, needed to be better than what it was,” Eberflus remarked after the season. “You look at the passing game, and that’s certainly one component of it. And there it is. We chose to move forward from that.”

Getsy’s offense in Chicago ranked 17th in offensive points per game (20.4), its highest mark since ranking 11th in 2018, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.