Ryan McFaddenFeb 1, 2026, 01:37 PM ET
- Ryan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN's NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.
After meeting Saturday with the Raiders and Cardinals, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak intends to try to work out a deal to become the next head coach in Las Vegas, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday.
If a deal is reached, Kubiak -- the son of former Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak -- would become the franchise's fifth full-time coach since 2021.
With Kubiak seemingly off the board, the Cardinals will decide among their other finalists -- Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.
A deal between Kubiak and the Raiders cannot be formally finalized until after the Super Bowl, in which the Seahawks will play the New England Patriots next Sunday.
Raiders general manager John Spytek has led the coaching search in close collaboration with minority owner and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Kubiak is among 15 candidates who interviewed with Las Vegas.
Kubiak, 38, would join Las Vegas after spending one season in Seattle, where he helped the Seahawks record the most regular-season wins in franchise history by orchestrating one of the league's best offenses.
Seattle was third in points (28.41 per game), 8th in total yards (351.4), tied for 10th in rushing yards (123.3), 8th in passing yards (228.1), 13th in offensive efficiency (50.76) and 15th in EPA (30.86).
The Seahawks' performance was an improvement from 2024 under former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, when they were 18th in points (22), 28th in rushing yards (95.7), 19th in offensive efficiency (43.35) and 18th in EPA (minus-0.24). Seattle was also first in points margin (11.24) after finishing 15th (0.41) last season.
Kubiak is a finalist for the Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year award.
The Raiders would be Kubiak's sixth team that he has coached in six seasons.
Kubiak's lone season in Seattle came after he was the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2024) and the pass game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2023) and the Broncos (2022). He even spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2019-2021), starting as a quarterbacks coach before he spent his final season as the offensive coordinator.
Las Vegas is headed towards a rebuild after firing head coach Pete Carroll -- who went 3-14 in his lone season with the organization. Under Carroll, the Raiders had one of their worst seasons in franchise history. Las Vegas ranked at the bottom in every major offensive category, including rushing yards per game (77.5). The team endured a 10-game losing streak and fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and special teams coordinator Tom McMcMahon.
Despite a disastrous 2025 campaign, the Raiders are positioned jumpstart the rebuild process. They are projected to have the second-most cap space in the league to work with during free agency.
They already have building blocks on the offense in tight end Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Additionally, they hold the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, with which they are expected to select Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
