The Raiders’ head coaching search has taken a turn into murky waters, and now it’s not just about who they’re chasing - it’s about who might be slipping away. Davis Webb, one of the top remaining candidates in Las Vegas’ search, left his Monday interview without a deal.
That alone raised eyebrows. But what happened next?
That’s where things start to get really interesting - and a little messy.
Just hours after Webb’s meeting with the Raiders wrapped, the Broncos made a bold internal move: they fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. The timing wasn’t subtle, and neither was the message. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Denver’s decision was directly tied to their desire to keep Webb in the building and out of silver and black.
Now, under league rules, the Broncos can’t just hand Webb the OC job without going through a formal hiring process. But what they can do is make it very attractive for him to stay.
Incentives, promises, a clear path forward - it’s all on the table. And it’s all happening while Webb is still being seriously considered for a head coaching gig with a division rival.
That kind of crossfire doesn’t happen by coincidence.
So what’s the play here? Denver clearly sees something in Webb they don’t want to lose - especially not to the Raiders.
And Las Vegas, despite the interest, hasn’t locked anything down. That leaves Webb at the center of a tug-of-war between two AFC West teams with very different situations - and perhaps very different visions for his future.
Meanwhile, the Raiders’ coaching search continues to raise questions, not just about who they’re targeting, but how they’re running the process. Klint Kubiak, another name in the mix, has reportedly declined a second interview.
No reasons have been made public, but the move speaks volumes. When a candidate passes on a second meeting, it often signals something behind the curtain isn’t quite clicking.
And there may be more to that than meets the eye. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, some candidates who’ve interviewed with the Raiders have walked away unsure about the team’s internal power structure.
That’s never a good sign - especially when you’re trying to lure top coaching talent. Clarity and stability are big selling points in a league where job security is anything but guaranteed.
One factor that looms large in all of this? Tom Brady.
His presence in the Raiders’ ownership group is undeniable, and there’s a growing sense that he wants to be more than just a figurehead. That kind of involvement might appeal to some coaches - especially those looking to learn from one of the game’s greatest minds - but it could be a dealbreaker for others who prefer a more traditional chain of command.
So here we are: the Raiders are still searching, the Broncos are circling the wagons around Webb, and the coaching carousel keeps spinning. But the longer this drags out, the more it feels like Las Vegas is navigating more than just a coaching search - they’re managing a perception problem. And in the NFL, perception can shape reality fast.