Raiders Reunite Former No. 1 Pick and Coach in Viral Pic

JaMarcus Russell and Lane Kiffin, whose careers with the Raiders ended in disappointment, meet up years later.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:55pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of silver, black, and red, conceptually representing the complex history and future of the Las Vegas Raiders organization.The reunion of two key figures from the Raiders' past highlights the franchise's opportunity to chart a new course with the upcoming No. 1 overall draft pick.Las Vegas Today

Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the team's ill-fated No. 1 overall pick in 2007, and former Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, who was fired midway through the 2007 season, recently reunited in a viral photo. The two were unable to turn the franchise around during their time together, but have since moved on to different paths.

Why it matters

The reunion of Russell and Kiffin, two of the most controversial figures in recent Raiders history, comes as the team prepares to make the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first time holding that selection since 2007 when they chose Russell.

The details

Russell was selected first overall by the Raiders in 2007 but is widely considered one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, failing to live up to his immense physical potential. Kiffin was hired as the Raiders' head coach that same year but was fired midway through the 2007 season after clashing with owner Al Davis. Despite their unsuccessful tenures in Oakland, the two have now reunited years later in a viral photo.

  • Russell was the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
  • Kiffin was hired as the Raiders' head coach in 2007 but was fired midway through that season.
  • The recent reunion photo of Russell and Kiffin was taken in 2026.

The players

JaMarcus Russell

A former quarterback who was the No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, but is considered one of the biggest draft busts in league history.

Lane Kiffin

A former head coach of the Raiders who was hired in 2007 but fired midway through that season after clashing with owner Al Davis.

Fernando Mendoza

The likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, who is expected to be very different from Russell in terms of work ethic and personality.

Matt Hasselbeck

A former NFL quarterback who is high on Mendoza and believes the Raiders are lucky to have the chance to draft him.

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What they’re saying

“I know all the guys better as people than I do as players. But Fernando Mendoza, for me, checks all the boxes. I know there's a little bit of hot-take shade that's being thrown at him recently on the television. But I chalk that up to guys are running out of things to say and they want to have a hot take. I don't think any of that's real. I would hope it's not real. Fernando Mendoza is amazing. He's amazing. He's so boring to talk about because yeah, he's going to be the first pick. It's not even up for debate.”

— Matt Hasselbeck, Former NFL quarterback

What’s next

The Raiders are expected to use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is considered a very different prospect from the ill-fated JaMarcus Russell.

The takeaway

The reunion of former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and former head coach Lane Kiffin serves as a reminder of the franchise's tumultuous past, but also highlights the Raiders' opportunity to potentially get their quarterback of the future right this time around with the likely selection of Fernando Mendoza.