The Las Vegas Raiders have their new head coach in Klint Kubiak, who was officially announced on Feb. 9. Kubiak is coming off winning Super Bowl LX as the Seattle Seahawks‘ offensive coordinator and now will have the task of revitalizing the Raiders’ offense.
One of the first tasks Kubiak will need to do is fill his coaching staff, and two key hires will be the offensive line coach and the defensive coordinator. With Kubiak being an offensive guy, whoever he chooses as his defensive coordinator will be huge, as they will likely have full control of that unit.
Ahead of Kubiak’s press conference on Feb. 10, former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison offered interesting insight into the thinking process the team’s new head coach might use when selecting his defensive coordinator.
“There are offensive play callers, they usually pick a defensive coordinator that’s given them problems in the past, coaches that have really made it tough or difficult for their offense,” Morrison said during the live broadcast leading into Kubiak’s press conference. “I think that’s where we’re probably going to see the defense be led by someone who’s probably given him problems either in practice or around the league.”
Insider on Potential Coaches to Join Klint Kubiak
When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, a few names are emerging in the rumor mill. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared the latest regarding who Kubiak could be considering to be a part of his coaching staff on offense.
“One name to keep an eye on from the Seattle staff, actually, there are a couple of names to keep an eye on,” Rapoport said in a video posted on X on Feb. 9. “Andrew Janocko, who has been the quarterbacks coach for Seattle and is a close ally of Klint Kubiak, is perhaps in the mix as OC.
“Jake Peetz is another really good young coach who has been, their passing game coordinator in Seattle and would be another name certainly to keep an eye on, as far as either OC in Seattle or potential OC with the Las Vegas Raiders. Klint Kubiak is now, thank you guys, very officially the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach after weeks and weeks of speculation and expectation.”
Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty Reflects on His Rookie Season
Although all the focus will be on what Kubiak can do with projected No. 1 overall pick Fernandon Mendoza, he already has young building blocks in Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
Despite the challenges of his rookie season, Jeanty recorded 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns during the 2025 NFL season, per StatMuse. With the offseason now underway for the Silver and Black, Jeanty had an opportunity to reflect on his first year in the NFL.
“I wouldn’t say I exceeded my expectations,” Jeanty said during a Feb. 5 appearance on “Up & Adams.” “My expectations are very high, but I think for the cards I was dealt, I think I did very well with them, and I think I was able to have a successful rookie year.”
Raiders Get Compelling Words Over Defensive Coordinator Search