The Las Vegas Raiders continue to build out Klint Kubiak’s inaugural coaching staff, and on Monday, they made three more key additions on the defensive and special teams side of the ball. Joe DeCamillis is stepping in as special teams coordinator, Matt Robinson joins as safeties coach, and Travis Smith returns to the organization to lead the defensive line.
Let’s break down what each coach brings to the table - and why these hires matter as the Raiders look to reset their identity under Kubiak.
Joe DeCamillis: A Special Teams Veteran With Championship Pedigree
The Raiders are handing the keys to their special teams unit to one of the most experienced coaches in the league. Joe DeCamillis brings 34 years of NFL experience - 32 of them focused on special teams - and a résumé that includes deep playoff runs and two Super Bowl rings.
He’s coming off a strong two-year stint at South Carolina, where he served as associate head coach and special teams coordinator. In 2025, he earned a Broyles Award nomination after helping overhaul the Gamecocks’ special teams unit. That kind of turnaround is exactly what the Raiders are hoping he can replicate in Las Vegas.
DeCamillis has coached in seven conference championship games and four Super Bowls, winning titles with the Broncos in 2015 and the Rams in 2021. That kind of postseason experience is invaluable, especially for a team trying to establish a winning culture under a new regime. His units have consistently been disciplined, physical, and opportunistic - traits that can swing momentum in tight games.
Matt Robinson: Rising Defensive Mind to Lead the Safeties
Matt Robinson is a name to watch. He’s young, but he’s been rising quickly through the coaching ranks, and the Raiders are betting on his versatility and defensive acumen to elevate their secondary.
Robinson spent the last five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, one of the NFL’s most consistently stout defenses. In 2025, he worked with the outside linebackers, and in 2024, he assisted the defensive line.
But it’s his work with the defensive backs in 2022 that stands out. That year, the Ravens finished third in both points allowed per game and defensive red zone touchdown percentage - two categories that speak to discipline and situational execution.
He’s worn a lot of hats - from coaching fellow to quality control to position coach - and that kind of holistic defensive background gives him a unique perspective when coaching safeties. Before his time in the NFL, Robinson coached at Maryland and UConn, and he also played at Maryland, logging time at both defensive back and linebacker over 39 career games. That hybrid playing experience should serve him well in today’s NFL, where safeties are asked to do everything from covering tight ends to blitzing off the edge.
Travis Smith: Familiar Face Returns to Lead the Defensive Line
For Travis Smith, this is more of a homecoming than a new beginning. After spending the 2025 season with the Titans as their defensive run game coordinator, he’s back in Silver and Black - this time as the defensive line coach.
Smith helped guide Titans star Jeffery Simmons to his fourth Pro Bowl last season, and Simmons didn’t just make the trip to the game - he dominated. According to the Raiders, Simmons led all interior defensive linemen in solo tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and quarterback pressures. That’s a testament to Smith’s ability to develop talent and scheme effectively in the trenches.
Smith spent three seasons with the Bears (2022-24) as their defensive line coach and had a decade-long run with the Raiders from 2012 to 2021, serving in a variety of defensive roles during both the Oakland and Las Vegas eras. That kind of organizational familiarity matters. He knows the culture, the expectations, and the fan base - and he’s proven he can coach up a front that gets after the quarterback and stops the run.
What This Means for the Raiders
These hires aren’t flashy, but they’re foundational - the kind of moves that help build a tougher, smarter, more consistent football team. DeCamillis brings a championship-caliber presence to special teams.
Robinson offers fresh energy and a sharp defensive mind in the secondary. And Smith brings continuity and proven success in the trenches.
For Klint Kubiak, assembling a staff with a blend of experience, upside, and familiarity is key. The Raiders are looking to turn the page - not just schematically, but culturally. And with these hires, they’re putting building blocks in place on all three phases of the game.