Raiders Coaching Search: Kubiak Leads

Second interview, real momentum

The Raiders confirmed this week they completed a second interview with Kubiak on Jan. 31.

That matters because the club’s own tracker shows a wide search that included established head coaches, coordinators and rising assistants. As openings filled around the league, Las Vegas kept its process moving and brought Kubiak back to the table.

ESPN reported Kubiak met Saturday with the Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals before intending to work toward a deal with Las Vegas.

The wait is part of the story

Kubiak is currently the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator. ESPN’s report noted any deal would come after those meetings, but the calendar is also a factor if his team is still playing.

With Seattle in Super Bowl LX, any announcement would come after the game on Feb. 8.

What Schefter says Kubiak would inherit

Schefter laid out the pitch in plain terms: the No. 1 overall pick, young offensive weapons and real spending power.

That No. 1 pick is the headline. The Raiders went 3-14 in Pete Carroll’s lone season, then moved on at the end of the year.

Schefter added the Raiders could use that top selection on Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner.

A Vegas core that finally makes sense

The roster fit is the cleanest part of the sales job.

Las Vegas drafted Brock Bowers No. 13 overall in 2024. A year later, the Raiders used the No. 6 pick on Ashton Jeanty.

If the Raiders land a quarterback at No. 1, Kubiak would step into a huddle that already has answers at tight end and in the backfield. Now they need the person calling the plays and, more importantly, the person developing the quarterback.

Cap space and the Brady factor

Schefter’s post cited projected $90 million in cap space. One public cap tracker lists the Raiders at roughly $89.3 million.

That matters in Las Vegas because flexibility is not just a buzzword. It is leverage. It is the ability to protect a rookie quarterback with veteran linemen, add speed at receiver and still keep the long view.

Schefter also pointed to Tom Brady being part of the situation Kubiak would walk into. Brady is a limited partner in the franchise after NFL owners approved his bid in October 2024.

The front office structure is set, too. The Raiders hired John Spytek as general manager in January 2025.

The ghost of 2007

Every No. 1 pick comes with pressure. For the Raiders, it comes with a name that still tightens the room.

Las Vegas last picked first overall in 2007, selecting JaMarcus Russell. Russell went 7-18 as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, completing 52.1% of his passes with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 65.2 passer rating.

That history does not mean the Raiders should fear the pick. However, it does explain why this hire and this quarterback decision have to line up.

Why Kubiak is the bet

The Raiders have been loud about searching for direction. Kubiak is a bet on offense, development and a modern plan that can travel week to week.

It is also a bet that the next era will be built, not patched. Las Vegas has draft capital, cap room and a young core, but none of it matters without the right quarterback.

If Kubiak is the choice, the Raiders are signaling they want the coach and the quarterback tied together from Day 1.