The Las Vegas Raiders are deep into their head coaching search, and this weekend could be pivotal. With interviews lined up for two of the NFL’s rising offensive minds-Joe Brady of the Buffalo Bills and Klay Kubiak of the San Francisco 49ers-the Raiders are clearly casting a wide net in pursuit of their next leader.
Brady, who’s set to interview Sunday after Buffalo’s Divisional Round matchup, has been one of the league’s more intriguing offensive architects over the past two seasons. The 36-year-old took over as the Bills’ offensive coordinator late in the 2023 season, stepping in after the team parted ways with Ken Dorsey following a sluggish 5-5 start.
What followed was a noticeable shift in philosophy-Buffalo moved away from a pass-first identity and leaned into a more balanced, versatile attack. Brady tapped into Josh Allen’s full toolkit, using the quarterback’s mobility as a weapon while establishing a stronger run game.
The result? Six wins in their final seven games, an 11-6 finish, and yet another AFC East title.
In 2024, Brady’s first full year at the helm, the Bills took things up a notch. They went 13-4, powered by an offense that ranked top-five in both total yards and scoring.
Most impressively, they led the league in rushing yards-no small feat in today’s pass-happy NFL-and still managed to spread the wealth through the air. Thirteen different players caught touchdown passes, a league record, underscoring Brady’s “Everybody Eats” philosophy.
That kind of creativity and adaptability has made him a finalist for the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award and now a serious candidate for a head coaching job.
On the other side of the country, Klay Kubiak is making his own mark. The 37-year-old was promoted to offensive coordinator in San Francisco ahead of the 2025 season, after steadily climbing the ranks within Kyle Shanahan’s staff.
While Shanahan still calls the plays, Kubiak has been instrumental in shaping the offense’s structure and weekly game plans. His fingerprints are all over the 49ers’ execution, particularly in the passing game, where San Francisco continues to thrive with a mix of motion, misdirection, and precision.
Kubiak’s coaching journey is a unique one. He started his career at the high school level in Texas, where he served as offensive coordinator and then head coach at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.
In three seasons, he led the team to a 24-11 record and three playoff appearances-a strong foundation before making the jump to the NFL. Since joining the 49ers in 2021, he’s been a defensive quality control coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and passing game specialist before earning his current role.
Of course, coaching runs in the family. Klay is the son of Gary Kubiak, a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and the brother of Klint Kubiak, who’s currently the offensive coordinator in Seattle-and also a candidate the Raiders have already interviewed.
Brady and Kubiak are just two names in what’s become a crowded and competitive field. The Raiders have already spoken with or requested interviews from a wide range of candidates, including Vance Joseph, Matt Nagy, Ejiro Evero, Jesse Minter, Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley, and several assistants from both the Rams and Broncos. Most of those initial interviews have been conducted virtually, with in-person meetings expected as the search moves into its next phase.
For Las Vegas, this is more than just a coaching hire-it’s a chance to reset the franchise’s direction. And with candidates like Brady and Kubiak in the mix, they’re clearly looking for someone who can bring fresh ideas, develop talent, and build a sustainable offensive identity. The next head coach will inherit a roster with potential and expectations, and the Raiders are doing their homework to find the right fit.