Josh McDaniels is gone but not forgotten in Las Vegas. And that isn't a good thing, according to four-time Pro Bowler and former Raiders offensive lineman Richie Incognito.
During an episode of Initial Contact, Incognito claimed that the possibility of getting payback against McDaniels is motivating the Raiders ahead of their Week 5 clash with the New England Patriots on Sunday. McDaniels had a short stint as the Raiders' head coach from 2022-2023.
Incognito didn't play under McDaniels, but he has a clear connection to the organization in the three years that he spent with the team before the six-time Super Bowl-winning assistant coach arrived.
"I'll tell you what is going to be a motivating factor for these Raiders. It's going back and getting
payback on Josh McDaniels because of what Josh McDaniels did to this team for two years," said Incognito. "He disrespected everybody on this team. He alienated everybody on this team. He lorded over them. Yeah, Josh, you're a great offensive coordinator, but you will never work outside New England.
"You know how I know the Raiders players, Raider nation, hates Josh McDaniels? They don't even talk about him. Those boys have stories from McDaniels that, nobody—it would blow people's minds how bad he treated this team."
The team meeting that ruined Josh McDaniels
— Initial Contact (@initialcontact) October 10, 2026
📸: USA Today Sports pic.twitter.com/yqjPxU4B4n
McDaniels was ultimately fired by the Raiders midseason in 2023. With that said, the Patriots will have some motivating factors of their own considering they lost to the Raiders last year in their home opener.
Quarterback Drake Maye and company are also looking at the real possibility of taking a lead in the AFC East division, if they win and the Buffalo Bills lose to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. Gillette Stadium will be a rollicking madhouse for a Raiders team that has impressed through the first four games taking on a Patriots team on the brink of a major turnaround run.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Former Raiders star claims team wants revenge on Josh McDaniels
