The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t just make a splash this offseason - they might’ve pulled off the biggest power move of the coaching carousel. After a whirlwind few weeks, the Silver and Black have emerged with a coaching tandem that could reshape the franchise’s trajectory.
Let’s start with the headline: Klint Kubiak is in the building.
Just a day removed from helping guide the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title, Kubiak touched down in Las Vegas, ready to take the reins as the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator. For many around the league, this was a long shot.
Kubiak’s stock was sky-high, and the assumption was he’d wait for a more established opportunity. Instead, he’s betting on the Raiders - and they’re betting big on him.
“There’s a history of Hall of Fame players here. There’s a history of Super Bowls,” Kubiak said during his introductory press conference. “And that’s what the ultimate goal is.”
It’s a fresh start for a franchise that’s been searching for stability and vision. Kubiak brings both. But the Raiders may not be done just yet.
Enter Jim Schwartz.
The longtime defensive coordinator, most recently with the Cleveland Browns, is reportedly on the market after being passed over in their head coaching search. According to league chatter, the Raiders are circling - and there’s mutual interest.
“We hear he wants Vegas and they want him,” said a high-ranking official from another team. “The Browns don't want to let him go, but how can you force him to work for Monken after they passed him over for the job?
They've let guys leave for a lateral move before. I think he gets out.”
For the Raiders, this could be the perfect pairing. Kubiak is a rising star on the offensive side of the ball, but he’s never been a head coach and doesn’t bring a defensive background. Schwartz, on the other hand, is a seasoned veteran with a proven track record of building elite defenses - exactly the kind of right-hand man a first-time head coach could use.
And Schwartz isn’t just any coordinator. His work in Cleveland speaks for itself.
In 2023, he led the league’s No. 1 defense, and followed it up with a top-five finish in 2025. Under his watch, Myles Garrett rewrote the record books with 23 sacks in a single season - a new NFL benchmark - and claimed his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
Schwartz also helped mold linebacker Carson Schwesinger into the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
That kind of résumé should get the attention of Raiders star Maxx Crosby - and it sounds like it already has. Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors, but a defensive mind like Schwartz could be the key to keeping him in Las Vegas.
“We want him to be a part of our success going forward. There’s no doubt about that,” Kubiak said when asked about Crosby. “He’s one of the best players in the NFL, so that’s a no-brainer to get to work with Maxx and see him continue to have success with this organization.”
It’s not hard to connect the dots. If the Raiders can land Schwartz, they’re not just adding a defensive coordinator - they’re adding a tone-setter, a culture-builder, and a stabilizing force for a young coaching staff. He checks every box: experience, success, player development, and the ability to elevate a defense that’s been stuck in the middle of the pack.
If Crosby stays and Schwartz signs on, the Raiders suddenly look like a team with real teeth on both sides of the ball. Kubiak brings the offensive innovation, Schwartz brings the defensive edge, and together, they could give the Silver and Black something it hasn’t had in a long time: a clear identity.
The Raiders aren’t just hoping for a turnaround - they’re building one. And with these moves, it’s starting to feel very real.