The Las Vegas Raiders are at a crossroads. After a 3-14 season in 2025 and the firing of Pete Carroll, the organization holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a clear chance to reset. With minority owner Tom Brady involved in the search and general manager John Spytek leading the process, the Raiders need a head coach who can develop young talent, install a modern offense, and build a sustainable program.
Klint Kubiak fits that profile. The 38-year-old offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks has moved quickly up the coaching ladder, building a reputation for adaptable scheme design and quarterback-friendly structure.
Klint Kubiak’s coaching path so far…
Kubiak’s path has been defined by steady progression. He began in college football at Texas A&M as a quality control coach and graduate assistant from 2010 to 2012. He entered the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, working his way through multiple roles, including assistant wide receivers coach, wide receivers coach, and quarterbacks coach. In 2021, he became Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, gaining early play-calling experience in a demanding job.
That stretch in Minnesota served as a proving ground. Kubiak worked with veteran quarterbacks, managed personnel turnover, and learned how to keep an offense functional through change. He then moved to the Denver Broncos in 2022 as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, adding experience under multiple staff structures.
In 2024, he took a second offensive coordinator role with the New Orleans Saints, leaning further into pre-snap motion, play-action, and a quicker passing game built on timing and defined reads.
More: Should the Raiders target John Harbaugh?
Taking the next step…
His 2025 move to Seattle elevated his profile. The Seahawks had been searching for offensive consistency, and Kubiak’s approach brought clearer structure. Seattle leaned into a balanced attack that emphasized the run game to create play-action opportunities, used motion to force defensive communication, and attacked the middle of the field with layered concepts. The idea was simple: make the same plays look different, and make the quarterback’s answers cleaner.
That blueprint aligns with what the Raiders have lacked. Las Vegas has cycled through quarterbacks and systems, often without a stable offensive identity. Whether the Raiders use the No. 1 pick on a quarterback or build around a veteran option, the next coach must provide two things immediately: protection for the passer and a plan that reduces volatility week to week.
Kubiak’s résumé suggests he can do that. He has worked with established starters and has built offenses around play-action, timing, and defined reads. His run-first tendencies, when paired with efficient passing concepts, can protect a young quarterback from unnecessary exposure while still creating explosive plays. Just as important, his scheme is designed to be taught and repeated, which is usually where struggling teams fail.
Related: A coaching shortlist needs to include Brian Flores
The Raiders should embrace a youth movement…
Kubiak’s age is also part of the appeal. The NFL has leaned toward younger offensive coaches who are willing to evolve, communicate clearly, and build systems around player strengths rather than a fixed playbook. That does not guarantee success, but it does increase the odds of alignment between roster building and weekly play-calling.
The Raiders do not need a headline hire. They need a coherent one. If Spytek and Brady want to pair the No. 1 pick with an offensive infrastructure that can support a long-term build, Kubiak is a logical candidate. He offers a modern structure, a quarterback-friendly approach, and a system that can grow with a young roster.
For the Raiders, the next hire is not just about 2026. It is about finally committing to an offensive identity that can survive adversity, turnover, and the weekly pressure of the AFC West. If that is the standard, Kubiak deserves serious consideration.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images