The Las Vegas Raiders Are Still Looking For Their Next Head Coach

If there is one thing the Las Vegas Raiders have never been known for, it’s stability. We are watching a franchise that treats head coaches like rental cars. Here we are again. It’s late January, the coaching carousel has spun off its axis for most of the NFL, and the Raiders are the last ones standing without a date to the prom. But this time, the silence coming out of Las Vegas feels different. It feels calculated.

With the franchise facing its fourth head coach in as many seasons, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And looming over the entire process is a shadow roughly the size and shape of a seven-time Super Bowl champion.

The Tom Brady Shadow Over Las Vegas

Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? Tom Brady isn’t just a minority owner; he’s the guy holding the keys. Reports are flying that any incoming coach needs to be “comfortable” with Brady looking over their shoulder.

That is a terrifying proposition for an insecure coach, but a fascinating one for a confident offensive mind. You aren’t just coaching the Raiders; you are coaching for the greatest quarterback to ever lace them up.

This dynamic has seemingly scared off the faint of heart, narrowing the field considerably. But it also signals a shift. Brady doesn’t do “rebuilds” in the traditional sense. He does “reload and win.” The fact that the search has dragged on suggests Brady and GM John Spytek aren’t looking for a stopgap. They are looking for a partner in crime to finally fix an offense that has been painful to watch.

Waiting On the Super Bowl: The Klint Kubiak Gamble

The smart money in Vegas right now is on Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks offensive coordinator has been the flavor of the month across the league, and for good reason. He’s running a Shanahan-style system that turns quarterbacks into efficiency machines and makes running backs look like superheroes.

The problem? He’s busy. Kubiak is coaching in Super Bowl LX against the Patriots, meaning the Raiders technically can’t hire him until the confetti is swept up in February.

This is a massive risk. While other teams are already filling out their coordinator staffs and scouting the Senior Bowl, the Raiders are in a holding pattern. If they wait for Kubiak and he decides to stay in Seattle, or worse, go elsewhere, Las Vegas is left holding the bag. But if they land him? They get an offensive architect who could pair beautifully with the incoming No. 1 overall pick.

The Davis Webb Curveball

If Kubiak is the safe, high-upside bet, Davis Webb is the wildcard. The Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach is only 31 years old. To put that in perspective, he’s younger than some of the veteran quarterbacks currently on the free-agent market.

Webb has interviewed in person and is sharp. He’s a former player who transitioned to coaching at warp speed, earning praise for his work with Bo Nix in Denver. Hiring Webb would be the most “Raiders” move possible. It would be a swing for the fences on a young, unproven commodity.

It fits the timeline of a rebuild, but does it fit the patience level of a fanbase that hasn’t seen consistent winning in two decades? Bringing in a 31-year-old to lead a locker room of grown men is a gamble that either ends in genius or disaster. There is rarely a middle ground.

Raiders Roster Reality Check

Here is the hard truth that nobody in the front office wants to say out loud: The coach is only half the battle. You could reincarnate Vince Lombardi, and he’d still struggle to win with this current roster.

The Raiders have holes everywhere. The defense needs help, the offensive line is porous, and the depth chart is razor-thin. However, there is a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The Raiders hold the keys to the draft with the No. 1 overall pick and a stockpile of 10 total picks.

Plus, they have Ashton Jeanty, one of the most electric young runners in football. Whether it’s Kubiak or Webb, the next coach is walking into a situation that is essentially a blank canvas. They aren’t inheriting a contender; they are being asked to paint a masterpiece from scratch.

The Verdict

As we inch closer to February, the silence from Las Vegas is deafening. The fans are anxious, the media is skeptical, and the rest of the AFC West is watching with amusement.

But for the first time in a long time, the Raiders aren’t panicking. They are waiting. Whether that patience pays off with a brilliant offensive mind like Kubiak or a wunderkind like Webb remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: With Brady pulling the strings, the Raiders aren’t just trying to fill a vacancy. They are trying to change their DNA.