As the LA Chargers prepare to open the season against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, the Las Vegas Raiders have officially opened the gates for what appears to be another traveling circus in 2025.
Just weeks after signing with the Raiders and insisting he still had some juice left in him, veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper has informed the Raiders his plans to retire. Assuming this retirement sticks, Cooper will walk away from the game at 31 years old.
There was a time when Cooper looked like a legitimate option for the Chargers, who instead opted to reunite with Keenan Allen. And while the Chargers had a reunion cut short via retirement of their own in Mike Williams, it's hard not to laugh at the timing of this news, considering it is the Raiders.
Raiders' circus is already in session and Chargers fans love it
This is the year the Raiders are supposed to be different! Pete Carroll is the head coach, they have an adult at quarterback in Geno Smith, and Tom Brady has influence as a minority owner. This is the year the Raiders finally piece it all together, right?
Well, that is the same story that has been sold for the last two decades. And every single year, whether its Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, or Antonio Pierce, the Raiders find a way to become more of a distraction than a good football team.
Cooper retiring just days before the Raiders' first game of the season is yet another perfect example of this circus that has followed the team. And if this is a sign of anything, it is that 2025 won't actually be different for the silver and black.
This isn't just an isolated incident, though. In addition to Cooper getting one taste of the Raiders and deciding to retire, wideout Jakobi Meyers has demanded a trade from the team. Las Vegas likely won't honor that demand, but it's an obvious sign that things aren't going great behind closed doors.
And that isn't even it, either! The Raiders shockingly released Christian Wilkins just one year after the team signed him to a massive multi-year deal. Vegas actually ate a lot of dead cap to facilitate the release with there being varying stories about behind-the-scenes concerns.
It's a circus. It always is with the Raiders.
The Chargers have an uphill battle ahead of them in 2025. Los Angeles has a tougher schedule than last season and plays in the most talented division in the NFL. And while the Raiders will certainly be a hard team to beat on any given Sunday, Chargers fans probably don't have to worry about them legitimately challenging for the AFC West crown.
Amari Cooper wasn't going to be the difference in the Raiders' season-long success. But his sudden retirement is a fair reflection on how this year may go for Vegas.