The 2026 NFL coaching carousel has finally come to a stop, with the Las Vegas Raiders locking in Klint Kubiak as their new head coach. But while the hire brings some clarity to the Raiders’ future, it also opens up a new set of questions - both for Kubiak and for the Seattle Seahawks, the team he just left behind.
Kubiak’s next challenge is assembling a staff - and he’s getting a late start compared to his fellow first-year head coaches. That’s no small hurdle.
Most of the top assistants are already spoken for, and with the offseason calendar moving fast, every day counts. Given the timing and his connections, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kubiak looks to bring a few familiar faces from Seattle with him to Las Vegas.
That, of course, puts new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald in a bit of a bind. Kubiak’s departure leaves a hole at offensive coordinator, and if he takes more assistants with him, Macdonald could be looking at multiple vacancies to fill before his first training camp even begins.
The early buzz suggests Macdonald is leaning toward promoting from within - a move that would bring some continuity for a team already adjusting to a new head coach. That internal promotion approach could also ease concerns about poaching coaches from other teams, like the Detroit Lions, who just made a key hire of their own.
Detroit, for its part, already went through a mini-shuffle on the offensive side. When former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the reins in Chicago, he had options from Dan Campbell’s staff to consider.
But instead of reaching outside or raiding Detroit’s ranks, Johnson opted to elevate passing game coordinator Press Taylor to the OC role, replacing Declan Doyle. That move helped the Lions avoid further disruption - at least for now.
But the Lions might not be completely out of the woods just yet.
In a post-Super Bowl update, insider reports pointed to Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko as the frontrunner to become Kubiak’s offensive coordinator in Las Vegas. However, there’s a strong chance Janocko stays in Seattle - potentially sliding into Kubiak’s old role as OC. If that happens, Kubiak may have to pivot again, possibly targeting Seahawks offensive line coach John Benton as his Plan B.
Either way, Seattle seems to be prioritizing internal continuity. Janocko, Benton, and pass-game coordinator Jake Peetz are all viewed as viable in-house candidates to take over the offense under Macdonald. But there’s one intriguing external name still lingering on the radar: Lions run-game coordinator Hank Fraley.
Fraley isn’t new to the Seahawks’ orbit. He interviewed twice for their OC job just last year before Kubiak ultimately got the nod.
Since then, Detroit expanded his role, adding run-game coordinator duties to his offensive line coach title - a clear sign of trust from Campbell’s staff. But at some point, you have to wonder how long Fraley will wait for his shot to call plays.
There are also personal factors in play. Fraley’s son recently transferred to Michigan State, which could reinforce his desire to stay close to home.
Still, if Seattle comes calling again - and this time with the full OC title on the table - it could force a tough decision. Loyalty runs deep, but so does ambition.
For now, the Seahawks seem committed to promoting from within. But if Macdonald decides to widen the search, Fraley’s name is one to watch. And if that offer comes, it might just be the opportunity that finally pulls him away from Detroit.