Raiders Head Coaching Search

[JRaider17]

Figured having all the confirmed Head Coach candidates in one central place would be helpful. This post will continuously be updated.

First Round of Interviews
Broncos QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Davis Webb (Interviewed 1/7)
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy (Interviewed 1/8)
Broncos DC Vance Joseph (Interviewed1/8)
Former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski (Interviewed 1/8)
Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak (Interviewed 1/9)
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero (1st Interviewed 1/14)
Chargers DC Jesse Minter (Interviewed 1/14)
Packers DC Jeff Hafley (Interviewed 1/15)
Rams Passing Game Specialist Nate Scheelhaase (Interviewed 1/16)
Rams OC Mike LaFleur (Interviewed 1/16)
Rams DC Chris Shula (Interviewed 1/16)
Bills OC Joe Brady )Interviewed 1/18)
49ers OC Klay Kubiak (Interviewed 1/18)
Former Miami HC Mike McDaniel (Interviewed 1/19 in person)
Former Giants HC Brian Daboll (Interviewed 1/24)

Second Interviews
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero (Interviewed 1/20 in person)
Chargers DC Jesse Minter (Interviewed 1/20 in person)
Bills OC Joe Brady (Interviewed 1/26)
Broncos QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Davis Webb (Interviewed 1/26) - Withdrawn
Former Giants HC Brian Daboll (Interviewed 1/27)
Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak (Interviewed 1/31)


Other HC Openings
Giants - John Harbaugh
Falcons - Kevin Stefanski
Dolphins - Jeff Hafley
Titans - Robert Saleh
Cardinals - Mike LaFleur
Browns - Todd Monken
Ravens - Jesse Minter
Steelers - Mike McCarthy
Bills - Joe Brady

Other Coordinators
Chargers - Mike McDaniel
Titans - Brian Daboll

[Sold My Soul]

A Very Brady Favorite

The Raiders’ selection of Kubiak is also notable on multiple fronts. The team has the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in April and is expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, fresh off of leading the Hoosiers to a perfect season, a national title, and a Heisman Trophy win. The Raiders also have nearly $90 million in available salary-cap space, the second-largest amount in the league.

More importantly, though, Kubiak has clear support from the Raiders’ minority owner and Fox Sports broadcaster Tom Brady.

During the network’s coverage of the NFC championship game last week between the Seahawks and Rams, Brady repeatedly lauded Kubiak on-air, saying at one point, “Kubiak designed some great plays, getting his guys open. And then [quarterback Sam] Darnold just executing everything.”

Kubiak’s hire, meanwhile, would mean there are no new Black head coaches hired in this offseason cycle, despite the historically high number of vacancies. That will almost certainly raise new questions about the effectiveness of the league’s Rooney Rule, and will likely be something commissioner Roger Goodell is asked about on Monday at his Super Bowl press conference.

[16 to 88]

Not taking into account the HC's that were hired and just looking at the team situations from themselves, this is where I am at as to what I believe will be the tallest order for any coach to get a team turned around. Starting with the easiest situation first

1.) Bills. Positives: Quarterback isn’t even a question mark and they have a good running game. If they can add a receiver or two and more talent to the defense that could be enough to win that division. Speaking of which, the division is weak with only one opponent to overcome.

Negatives: There cap is a mess and they are drafting at the bottom of the draft. Going to be a challenge to add talent that way.

2.) Ravens. Positives: QB is set, running game is good and they have good position in the coming draft. There are talented players at various positions on that team.

Negatives: There pass defense was atrocious and they don’t have a lot of cap space. There division ain’t easy.

3.) Steelers. Positives: There cap is in good shape and they are positioned well in the draft.

Negatives: QB is an unknown the division is tough and they weren’t good on either side of the ball. They land in this spot because of previous years. If they had been in shambles previous years they would be further down this list.

4.) Giants. Positives: They may have found their future QB and they have the running game to help him out. Besides the eagles, there division is up for grabs. The cowboys can’t seem to get out of their own way and the commanders can’t seem to count on toothpick.

Negatives: The defense is in shambles as is there cap. Their position in the draft is meh. While they do draft high in the first two rounds they have no third round pick.

5.) Falcons. Positives: They played okay football on both sides of the ball and seem to have a good ground game and really got after the QB. They also play in a pansy of a division so that’s not saying much about those positives, but it is easily for the taking.

Negatives: Quarterback is a mess. Doesn’t look like Penix is it and Cousins is a 100 years old. They have no first round pick coming up in this draft and only 5 selections after that. There cap isn’t a bright spot either.

6.) Titans. Positives: Ward did hang in there last year despite being sacked 55 times and was a rookie. There division is a two horse race so they have a chance to assert themselves. They have the most cap space in the NFL and are set up nicely for the draft.

Negatives: They didn’t play good football on either sides of the ball, Ward had a lot of fumbles and his completion percentage was awful.

7.) Browns. Positives: Top 5 defense despite a bottom 5 offense. They are also in a good position for this year's draft.

Negatives: Quarterback situation is a major question mark and with a new HC coming in they will be learning another system all over again. There cap is abysmal and they are in a tough division.

8.) Raiders. Positives: Team played middle of the road defense despite having the worst offense in the entire league. Team also has some potential at various positions and the #1 pick in the draft to go along with a full set of selections and some compensatory picks totaling 10 altogether. We have the second most cap in the league.

Negatives: Quarterback position is unsettled and there are holes to be filled in the OL, WR and LB in particular amongst other positions. We play in arguably the toughest division in all of football and a stadium that has constantly been filled with other teams fans.

9.) Cardinals. Positives: Their passing game was middle of the road and while there QB situation is not good at least they have a veteran they can lean on. They pick high in the draft and have a full set of 7 selections.

Negatives: Team didn't play good football on either sides of the ball and it plays in arguably one of the toughest divisions in all of football and they need a quarterback. Salary cap is nothing to write home about.

10.) Dolphins. Positives: Middle of the road rushing offensively and the division they are in is a two horse race so they have a chance to assert themselves. Drafting high in the draft and has 8 total selections.

Negatives: No QB, played lousy football on both sides of the ball, worst cap position out of these 10 teams. Sit’s currently at minus 22 million in the negative.

[Willmark]

Wonder how the coin will react to the Kubiak and Mendoza additions?

As the keeper of the coin? Like the groundhog appearing once he only emerges at the Hall of Fame game timeframe (it’s on my calendar as reminder in August).

Point being, too soon to say.

[Viper]

Good post. My priorities are on getting the best development for Mendoza now. We have the offensive architect and the true OC at HC. Now we need a good oline coach and the right QB coach to work with him day to day. Then we need to improve the talent and depth on the oline so we can protect Mendoza and help him out by leaning on the run while he learns.

Aside from that, I'm less concerned with the staff additions in 2026. Obviously we want the staff to be filled with homerun hires, but it's ok if we have some misses and have to make some changes next year. 2026 doesn't need to be filled with wins, just growth. It's key that Kubiak have the freedom to hire who he wants to hire - Spytek and Brady can support that effort with contacts and collaboration, but the decisions need to be Kubiak's.

I consider 2026 to basically be the 2027 preseason.

Good take. It will be nice to be relevant in our division again, hopefully in the next couple of years. In order to make the post season, we must be. Giving our opponents reason to pay attention to us on the schedule is a good starting point, and having a HC who can develop a game plan week to week, as every team presents their own challenges, is something we’ve lacked for a long time.

Win the games you’re supposed to and no more being predictable. Bring talent in through the draft and FA, spend wisely thinking of the rebuild, bring Mendoza along the right way, all with the base knowledge this isn’t getting turned around year one.

Just woke up to day one of the rebuild and culture change we’ve needed for many years, and I don’t feel like I’m drinking kool aid instead of coffee to start the morning. Feels damn good honestly.

[Viper]

A Very Brady Favorite

The Raiders’ selection of Kubiak is also notable on multiple fronts. The team has the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in April and is expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, fresh off of leading the Hoosiers to a perfect season, a national title, and a Heisman Trophy win. The Raiders also have nearly $90 million in available salary-cap space, the second-largest amount in the league.

More importantly, though, Kubiak has clear support from the Raiders’ minority owner and Fox Sports broadcaster Tom Brady.

During the network’s coverage of the NFC championship game last week between the Seahawks and Rams, Brady repeatedly lauded Kubiak on-air, saying at one point, “Kubiak designed some great plays, getting his guys open. And then [quarterback Sam] Darnold just executing everything.”

Kubiak’s hire, meanwhile, would mean there are no new Black head coaches hired in this offseason cycle, despite the historically high number of vacancies. That will almost certainly raise new questions about the effectiveness of the league’s Rooney Rule, and will likely be something commissioner Roger Goodell is asked about on Monday at his Super Bowl press conference.

I’m so sick of the Rooney Rule. Waste of time and resources on both sides. It’s a formality teams must go through which doesn’t sway the needle in hiring decisions, teams are going to hire who they want. If the person is qualified and fits your description of what your vision for the team is, hire the individual.

At this point you might as well do voice alteration, in the dark interviews. And unless I’m mistaken, I don’t believe there’s more than a couple Asian coaches either but you don’t hear about that.

It’s all PR and optics, don’t hurt their feelings. Color of your skin has no place in this league. It would be almost the same as saying you need more white players on your team. You take the best coach/player available, always.

[WNYRAIDER]

Kubiak is exactly what we hoped we would have gotten last year with Johnson. We waited out a brutal year and appear to have both a promising Coach and QB.

There’s a ton of work to be done! The coaching staff needs to be ironed out, a free agent class aggressively attacked, not to mention preparation for the upcoming draft…..

That being said, I’m excited! We just signed a coach numerous other teams wanted. Feels good not being the runner up.

...while understanding there is a significant need for talent upgrades in some key areas, also believe that we were coached into looking far worse than we needed to look, between the brutally out of sync offense, which rightfully got the oc fired in season, and the kid o line coach, who made what we do have look like we have less.
...with our resources this year, and not having to trade away a boatload for a potential franchise qb, and having that guy on the beginning of a rookie deal, and with many other draft quality picks, and with a bunch of cap cash, I could see a significant turn around in only a year or 2. ....5 or 6 player upgrades at positions of most need after QB could really bolster this roster, and my guess is that with the #1 pick and a legit QB target to use it on, as well as the talent we do have at some key positions, is what might get this done with kubiak.

[raidersince63]

I’m so sick of the Rooney Rule. Waste of time and resources on both sides. It’s a formality teams must go through which doesn’t sway the needle in hiring decisions, teams are going to hire who they want. If the person is qualified and fits your description of what your vision for the team is, hire the individual.

At this point you might as well do voice alteration, in the dark interviews. And unless I’m mistaken, I don’t believe there’s more than a couple Asian coaches either but you don’t hear about that.

It’s all PR and optics, don’t hurt their feelings. Color of your skin has no place in this league. It would be almost the same as saying you need more white players on your team. You take the best coach/player available, always.

Kudos !

Same here...I've been been thinking the same thing but was afraid to actually say it.

[riseNraid09]

Kudos !

Same here...I've been been thinking the same thing but was afraid to actually say it.

apparently, if you have black friends, you can say it...

[NewEraX25]

Kudos !

Same here...I've been been thinking the same thing but was afraid to actually say it.

Not a single black HC hired this cycle. The rule does nothing. There are reasons coaches like PG stay doing coordinator jobs, because that is what they are decent at and just don't have the chops to be a HC, and there is nothing wrong with that, unless one feels that every position needs to be filled by a minority.

[RI RAIDER]

The last team that should need to satisfy the Rooney Rule is the Raiders. The track record speaks for itself. Just Win Baby.

[BoKnows81]

Robert Saleh is a minority and he was hired. Just saying.

[raidersince63]

Not a single black HC hired this cycle. The rule does nothing. There are reasons coaches like PG stay doing coordinator jobs, because that is what they are decent at and just don't have the chops to be a HC, and there is nothing wrong with that, unless one feels that every position needs to be filled by a minority.

Just to be clear, for me, the "rule" doesn't really seem to accomplish anything. As has been pointed out, teams are going to hire who they want to hire and to force them adhere to a senseless "rule" is silly.

[raidersince63]

The last team that should need to satisfy the Rooney Rule is the Raiders. The track record speaks for itself. Just Win Baby.

I was gonna bring that up too...(Flores and Shell)

[RunOverByHubbard]

Seattle ranked second this season in under-center rate and seventh in play-action dropback rate. The Seahawks led the NFL in yards per attempt on play action passes, too.

Overall, the Seahawks' offense was eighth in points per game and yards per game, sixth in yards per play and second in net yards per pass attempt. Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (NFL-leading 1,793 receiving yards) both made the Pro Bowl.

[Attyla]

Robert Saleh is a minority and he was hired. Just saying.

It is strange the line they draw in the sand. He does not qualify under the rule but they don't seem to care.