Klint Kubiak Set to Take Over Raiders, AFC West Now Fully Offensive-Minded
As the NFL coaching carousel comes to a stop, all 10 head coaching vacancies around the league are officially filled-or at least, unofficially filled in the case of Las Vegas. The Raiders can’t ink the deal just yet due to Super Bowl protocol, but all signs point to Klint Kubiak stepping in as the next head coach in Sin City.
And with that move, the AFC West becomes a full-on offensive think tank. Every head coach in the division now comes from the offensive side of the ball, a clear shift in philosophy as teams look to keep pace in an increasingly scheme-driven league.
Raiders Pivot to Offense After One-and-Done with Pete Carroll
The Raiders went defense in 2025, bringing in Pete Carroll for what turned out to be a brief stint. One year later, they’re flipping the script. Kubiak will be the latest to take a swing at turning around a franchise that’s cycled through head coaches faster than most teams change coordinators.
Kubiak, 36, has bounced around the league in various offensive roles over the past five years, earning a reputation as a sharp play-designer and a steady presence in quarterback rooms. Now, he gets his first shot at the big chair-and he’s walking into a situation loaded with potential.
Las Vegas holds the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, has ample cap space to work with, and already features intriguing young talent like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty. For a first-time head coach, it’s a rare combination of flexibility and firepower.
AFC West: The New Offensive Arms Race
While defense stole the spotlight across the NFL in 2025-with pressure packages and disguised coverages giving quarterbacks fits-the AFC West is zagging while the rest of the league zigs.
Kubiak joins a division stacked with offensive minds. Andy Reid is still dialing up magic in Kansas City.
Sean Payton brings his veteran savvy to Denver. And Jim Harbaugh, while more of a CEO-type these days, has always had a knack for getting the most out of his quarterbacks-both mentally and physically.
But it’s not just the head coaches. The offensive coordinator shuffle in the division this offseason has been just as aggressive.
Eric Bieniemy returns to Kansas City, reuniting with Reid in a move that could sharpen the Chiefs’ already potent attack. Mike McDaniel, fresh off his head coaching stint in Miami, lands with the Chargers, bringing his motion-heavy, timing-based system to L.A.
And in Denver, the Broncos are in the middle of reshuffling their offensive staff after parting ways with Joe Lombardi. There’s buzz that Davis Webb could be elevated internally, but nothing’s set in stone yet.
For Kubiak, that’s the gauntlet. Four teams, four offensive head coaches, and a division where creativity and execution on that side of the ball will likely decide who rises and who fades.
A Familiar Name in AFC West Circles
Klint Kubiak’s last name might already ring a bell for AFC West fans. His father, Gary Kubiak, spent nearly a decade as head coach of the Houston Texans before taking over the Denver Broncos in 2015. That year, he led the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 victory over the Carolina Panthers-Peyton Manning’s swan song and one of the league’s great “ride off into the sunset” moments.
Now it’s Klint’s turn to make his mark in the same division where his father once hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. And while the Raiders are far from a finished product, the opportunity is there for a quick turnaround.
Las Vegas hasn’t had much to celebrate in recent decades. Since their loss in Super Bowl XXXVII following the 2002 season, they’ve made the playoffs just twice.
Only the Dolphins have gone longer without a playoff win. That’s the kind of drought that defines eras-and ruins careers.
But with the expectation that the Raiders will use the top pick on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Kubiak could be walking into a rare alignment of timing, talent, and trust. A young quarterback, a fresh offensive vision, and a franchise desperate for stability? It’s a lot to take on, but it’s also the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often.
The AFC West is about to become must-watch football on a weekly basis. And now, with Klint Kubiak in the mix, the Raiders are finally leaning into the modern game. The question is: can they finally get it right?