The Las Vegas Raiders appear to have gone into this offseason’s coaching search with a very open mind. There aren’t any obvious favorites for the job quite yet, as the team continues to cast a wide net.
That said, they may have tipped their hand with some of these recent interviews. There’s been a debate about whether or not the Raiders should target an offensive or defensive mind at head coach.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Las Vegas plans to interview Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak.
They have interviewed four coaches with a defensive background, but have either interviewed or plan to interview eight coaches with offensive backgrounds with the Kubiak and Brady news.
Based on that, it seems that the Raiders might be leaning toward going with an offensive mind. Now, one of the four defensive coaches they’ve interviewed could be a candidate they like a lot.
The team could favor an offensive mind, but they aren’t ruling out a defensive coach. With a rookie quarterback likely coming in next season, it makes sense to target an offensive-minded coach. If the Raiders are going to hire a defensive-minded head coach, they are going to have a great plan for their offensive coordinator hire.
Are Kubiak & Brady Real Candidates?
Kubiak and Brady are two interesting candidates. Klay Kubiak’s brother, Klint Kubiak, has already interviewed for the job and is considered one of the favorites. Brady was once one of the hottest young offensive minds on the market, but he had some setbacks that cooled his hype.
Kubiak has been working under Kyle Shanahan since 2021, so he should understand offense at a high level, but he hasn’t called plays. Brady called plays for a Bills offense that was top-five in scoring this season. He might not get much credit because quarterback Josh Allen is so good, but the Bills offense isn’t brimming with talent. He at least deserves some credit for the offense playing well.
It’s hard to imagine either coach is one of the Raiders’ top targets, but they could win the team over in the interview process.
Will the Raiders Interview More Defensive Candidates?
Two defensive coordinators that the Raiders haven’t interviewed yet who were previously linked to the job are Robert Saleh and Brian Flores. This doesn’t mean they are out of the running.
Saleh interviewed for the head coaching job last year, so the Raiders already know him well. Minority owner Tom Brady worked with Flores for years in New England, so he has a ton of insight into him.
The Raiders likely aren’t looking to do phone interviews with them and would just have them come visit in person. Saleh is still coaching in the playoffs, so it’s easy to understand why his interview schedule is difficult.
Flores is at home right now. It’d be simple to have him fly out. Perhaps he’s not overly interested in the job. It’s still early enough in the process that Saleh and Flores are in play, but if they don’t interview soon, they likely aren’t in consideration.
Latest Raiders Coaching Leak Suggests Which Way Team Is Leaning