The Raiders appear ready to make their move, even if the calendar won’t let them do it just yet. Las Vegas has zeroed in on Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as its next head coach, with the final step delayed only by Seattle’s appearance in Super Bowl LX against New England on Feb. 8. Until that game is played, the Raiders must wait, but the direction of their search has effectively narrowed to one name.
At 38, Kubiak has emerged as one of the most sought-after coaches of this hiring cycle after orchestrating a breakout season for Seattle’s offense. In his first year running the unit, the Seahawks finished near the top of the league in both scoring and total offense, then raised their level further in the postseason, piling up points on the way to a Super Bowl berth. That production — and the adaptability behind it — made Kubiak a popular interview across the league, including stops with Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami and New York, before Las Vegas came back for a second look and emerged as the frontrunner.
Kubiak’s résumé reflects a steady climb rather than a meteoric rise. He entered the NFL as an offensive quality control coach in Minnesota in 2013, later worked in Denver during his father Gary Kubiak’s tenure there, and has since logged coordinating stints with the Vikings, Saints and now Seahawks. The path has exposed him to a variety of systems and leadership styles, experiences that now position him for his first head-coaching opportunity.
If and when the hire becomes official, Kubiak would step into a division dominated by veteran names — Andy Reid, Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh — all decades older and armed with Super Bowl pedigrees. He would also inherit a franchise searching for traction. Las Vegas is coming off a 3–14 season, owns the league’s lowest-ranked offense, and has cycled through head coaches at an alarming rate over the past several years. Stability has been elusive, and success even more so.
Yet the appeal for both sides is obvious. The Raiders are desperate for an offensive reset, and Kubiak’s calling card is precisely that. The roster still features cornerstone pieces such as Maxx Crosby and Ashton Jeanty, and the organization holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft — a potential gateway to a franchise quarterback. Minority owner Tom Brady’s presence also looms large, offering both influence and expectations that align with a long-term rebuild rather than another short-term patch.
The climb back to relevance will not be quick, especially after another failed coaching experiment ended just one season in. But from Las Vegas’ perspective, Kubiak represents a rare combination of modern offensive vision, upward momentum and untapped upside. The Raiders have waited years to find the right leader. Waiting one more week may be a small price to pay if they believe they’ve finally found him.
