Feb 11, 2026
3 min read
The Raiders hired Clint Kubiak.Here's what that means for Las Vegas and what's to come in the offseason.
HENDERSON, Nev.- As the Las Vegas Raiders search for their 25th coach, they made a move that made sense.With running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers in the building, and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza potentially on the way, Las Vegas' hiring of an offensive coach is about maximizing the potential of its current and future young stars.
The Raiders have acquired Klint Kubiak, who recently led the Seattle Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl LX, as offensive coordinator.
Yes, Kubiak will bring an offensive system that's proven -- Seattle was third in scoring (28.4 per game) and eighth in total yards (351.4) in 2025. But his arrival means the Raiders have secured their best coaching pick since taking over S Pete John Carroll last year.
Raiders general manager John Spitek led the coaching search in close cooperation with minority owner and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.Before the search began when the Raiders fired Carroll on Jan. 5, Spitek said the team would be open about its approach.However, there was a clear emphasis on people from abusive backgrounds.Of the 15 candidates who interviewed for the position, 10 coaches emphasized offense, including Davis Webb, Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll and Kubiak.
After Webb was recalled, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was the team's backup option.
Kubiak stood out in a virtual interview on Jan. 9, and he impressed the organization and Brady.Brady was Fox's color commentator for Seattle's 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round and 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
The Raiders matched up with Kubiak the week before the Seahawks traveled to San Francisco for the Super Bowl.They officially faced him for the second time in Seattle on Jan. 31 against the Arizona Cardinals.The wait may have seemed risky as head coaching vacancies filled around the league, reducing the team's options.
But the raiders' patience was rewarded.Kubiak has been signed to a five-year contract, a source told Adam Schefter.
Now, Las Vegas still needs to make significant progress before it can compete.However, the offense should be in much better shape after finishing last in offense (14.1) and total yards (245.2).
Under Kubiak, the Seahawks' offense has gone overnight from last season's Ryan Grubb-led team that finished 18th in scoring (22.1) and 14th in total yards (332.2).The 2025 Seahawks' points per game (28.4) ranks second in franchise history behind the 2020 team, which averaged 28.7 points.
Kubiak, the son of former Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree and runs his own version of the West Coast offense.
It is heavy on the use of players, such as 12 personnel (one running back, two wide receivers and two tight ends) and 21 personnel (two running backs, tight ends and two wide receivers).By doing this, the Seahawks forced opponents to stop running, allowing them to create mismatches and break plays in the passing game.
The Raiders' current wideout locker room doesn't hold up against the Seahawks.Seattle had 2025 offensive linemen Jackson Smith-Nigba, Rasheed Shahid and Cooper Kupp.Still, Las Vegas' Bowers -- who has 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games -- has a chance to thrive in Kubiak's system.
The Raiders also have wide receiver Trey Tucker (57 catches, 696 yards and five touchdowns), who can stretch the field vertically.He's made big strides in each of his three seasons in the league and could be Kubiak's big break as a player.Tucker was praised for getting open by winning one-on-one matches.Kubiak has one for his pass catchers.He excelled in crafty plays that created one-on-one matchups.
The Seahawks are one of the best teams at running the 12-man roster.During the regular season, Seattle used the 12-man on 27.4 percent of its possessions (11th in the league, per NFL Next Gen Stats).They rank first in total yards per game (7.5), first in passing yards per game (10.5), third in offensive EPA (47.01) and third in rushing yards.(5.3) ranks third.
Kubiak's outside zone running scheme was effective, as Seattle tied for 10th in rushing yards (123.3) after ranking 28th in 2024 (95.7). He did a solid job using backs Kenneth Walker III (221 carries, 1,027 yards and five touchdowns) and Zach Charbonnet (184 carries, 730 yards and 12 touchdowns).
Walker was named Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries against the Patriots.
The Raiders wanted to use a running-back system under former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, but that plan ultimately fell through.Las Vegas finished last in rushing yards (77.5) per game.Jeanty ran the ball 266 times for 975 yards and five scores.Quarterback Geno Smith was second in carries with 41.
Jeanty, who averaged 3.7 yards per carry, should have consistent production in Kubiak's scheme.But for him and the rest of the offense to have some success in the first year, a number of changes will need to be made through free agency or the draft.The Raiders are expected to invest heavily in the offensive line after the unit was the team's biggest weakness in 2025.
Las Vegas has already solidified the left tackle spot with Colton Miller.Whether Jackson Powers-Johnson plays right guard or center will depend on the new coaching staff.However, adding two interior linemen and a right tackle would be wise
Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson and Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards are among the free agents.The Raiders can get starting left tackle Dylan Parham, who has started 63 of 64 career games for the organization, back.
They also need to add a top wide receiver who can draw attention away from Bowers.Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts and Rasheed Shahid of the Seahawks are two wide receivers the Raiders could target in free agency.Shahid is familiar with Kubiak's system and can provide added value as a returner.
In addition, the Raiders need to buy another running back to fill in for Jeanty and allow Kubiak to repeat what he did with Walker and Charbonnet.
If Mendoza is selected with the No. 1 pick in April's draft, he and Kubiak should form a strong bond.Kubiak has seen tough quarterback play all too well.Seattle QB Sam Darnold earned his second Pro Bowl selection after recording 4,048 passing yards (fifth in the league), 25 touchdowns (tied for ninth), 14 interceptions (third) and a graduation rate of 67.7% (seventh) through 2025.
When Kubiak became the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, QB Derek Carr posted 2,145 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 60.2 QBR and 67.7% completion rate in 10 games.San Francisco QB Brock Purdy 4,280.Kubiak had 31 touchdowns yards and 11 interceptions in 2023 as the passing game coordinator.
In Kubiak's three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, two as defensive backs coach (2019-2020) and one as offensive coordinator (2021), Kirk Cousins has thrown for 12,089 yards, 94 touchdowns and a 67.6% completion rate.In 2021, Cousins was selected to the Pro Bowl after throwing for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven picks.
Mendoza — a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion — said on The Pat McAfee Show that he was a "fan" of Kubiak and had watched a lot of Seahawks film.
"This whole season, we've actually had a little Kubiak-[Sean] McVay system, not for our RPO system, but for our game," Mendoza said in San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
"The way [Kubiak] has the ability to penetrate the outside zone and get the edge with the running game, where the running back can gather the edge, hit the hole or make a play outside of it, and the way he developed Sam Darnold is unique," he said.
"I'm just a football fan, I watched a lot of breakdowns in his movies."
