There was a flurry of head coaching hires in recent days. The Las Vegas Raiders showed interest in Jeff Hafley and Kevin Stefanski, but both already landed head coaching jobs.
Robert Saleh wasn’t a coach that the team interviewed, but he’s now off the board, as he was hired by the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders are missing out on some high-end options, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good candidates left.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is still coaching in the playoffs, so the Raiders can’t interview him in person. They won’t be the only team in on him.
However, the fact that the Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a clear path to a quarterback should appeal to an offensive mind like Kubiak. He called plays for a top-10 offense this season, and the Seahawks are headed to the NFC Championship after his offense scored 41 points.
He knows how to put together an offense. There are questions about his ability to lead a team, but there are plenty of great coaches in the NFL who aren’t loud or overly charismatic.
Amid the recent coaching moves, Kubiak is now the betting favorite (+175) to be the Raiders’ next head coach.
What About Brian Flores?
Before the Raiders even fired head coach Pete Carroll, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was the early betting favorite to land the head coaching job. However, he has not even been interviewed by the team yet.
The Vikings didn’t make the playoffs, so he’s free to interview whenever. It’s possible that he may have expressed that he’s not interested in the opening. He might make more sense for a team that has an established veteran quarterback instead of a rookie coming in.
It’s also possible that the Raiders already know enough about Flores due to his Tom Brady ties that they don’t think it’s necessary to do multiple interviews with him. Regardless, it looks like Flores is no longer in the mix for Las Vegas, but things could still change.
Other Names to Watch
Kubiak is an obvious fit with the Raiders. The team’s offense has been atrocious the last few seasons, so getting a coach who knows how to call plays could be the smart move. He’s not the only coach left in the mix for Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a very strong candidate. The Raiders interview him soon, and it’s possible that they will not let him leave the building. His advantage is that his team is already out of the playoffs, so he can interview whenever he wants.
Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is an interesting candidate. Similar to Kubiak, he can’t interview in person with the Raiders right now due to the playoffs, but he could be the bold candidate the team needs to hire. He has very little experience and has never called plays, but people around the NFL think very highly of him. As of now, Kubiak, Minter and Webb appear to be the early favorites.
New Favorite for Raiders Coaching Job Emerges Amid Hiring Flurry