Jeanty could be biggest benefactor if Raiders hire Kubiak as expected

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty could be biggest benefactor if team hires Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as expected

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 1, 2026 2:41 PM ET

Things could be looking up for Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty after a disappointing rookie season.

On Sunday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak plans to sign a deal with the Raiders as their next head coach. Jeanty may be the biggest benefactor if Vegas hires him as expected.

How Klint Kubiak could help Ashton Jeanty rebound after underwhelming rookie season

Jeanty (pick No. 6 of the 2025 NFL Draft) wasn't awful during his rookie season, rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 17 games. Vegas, though, expected more after a historic final season with the Boise State Broncos.

In 2024, Jeanty ran for the second-most yards (2,601 yards in 14 games) in a season in FBS history, behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (2,628 yards in 11 games with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 1988). The 22-year-old RB was named a Heisman finalist and won the Doak Walker Award as the best running back in college football.

Source: After meeting Saturday with Las Vegas and Arizona, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak intends to try to work out a deal to become the next head coach of the Raiders. pic.twitter.com/KlFQiVlDy4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2026

Nepotism on the Raiders coaching staff likely contributed to Jeanty's struggles during his rookie season. Former Vegas HC Pete Carroll, who was fired after going 3-14 in 2025, hired his son Brennan as the team's O-line coach. It was apparent he wasn't qualified for the position.

Per Pro Football Reference's data, the Raiders rank last in the league in yards before contact per rushing attempt (1.6). YBC measures the distance a running back travels from the line of scrimmage until a defender first touches them.

Kubiak is the son of former Denver Broncos HC Gary. Unlike Brennan Carroll, he's a run-game expert.

Klint Kubiak uses a zone-blocking scheme that relies heavily on outside runs, similar to his father's. North Carolina Tar Heels HC Bill Belichick outlined the scheme and the OC's background on "Inside the NFL" in September 2024.

His system clearly works. The Seahawks rank 10th in the NFL in rushing yards (123.5). Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III rushed for 1,027 yards during the regular season, the second most in his four-year career.

The Raiders are banking on Jeanty producing similar results under Klint Kubiak. In 2026, the run game will become even more critical for Vegas, which is expected to take a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tankathon has the franchise selecting Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) with pick No. 1 in its latest mock draft.

Raiders fans should keep a close eye on the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots (Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). It could give them a good look at how Jeanty may fare in a Klint Kubiak-led offense.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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