The Las Vegas Raiders are knee-deep in their head coaching search, and the list of candidates is growing by the day. From offensive minds to defensive specialists, young up-and-comers to seasoned veterans, new general manager John Spytek is clearly casting a wide net. And with a promising young core on offense - quarterback Fernando Mendoza, tight end Brock Bowers, and running back Ashton Jeanty - the expectation is that the Raiders will lean toward an offensive-minded head coach to guide the next phase of the franchise.
But there's a compelling case to be made for thinking differently.
Enter Matt Burke - a name that hasn’t been buzzing nearly as much as it should be in this hiring cycle. While most of the league’s attention has gone to flashier candidates or coaches with more recognizable names, Burke has quietly helped orchestrate one of the most dominant defensive turnarounds in the NFL this season. And yet, the Raiders haven’t requested an interview.
That’s a head-scratcher.
Burke, currently the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans, took over play-calling duties in Week 4 after the team’s 0-3 start. Since then, Houston has gone 13-2, including a commanding 30-6 win in the Wild Card Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Those two losses? They came against the No. 1 seeds in both the AFC and NFC - not exactly red flags.
Under Burke’s leadership, the Texans defense has been lights out. They’ve gone from giving up 315.7 yards per game in the first three weeks to just 262.7 since - and if you toss out a meaningless Week 18 game where starters rested, that number drops even further to 256.2. The points allowed per game have also dipped, from 17.0 to 16.7 - and realistically, closer to 15.7 when you factor out Week 18.
But it’s not just about limiting yards and points. Burke’s unit has been opportunistic and aggressive.
After forcing just two turnovers in the first three games, the Texans racked up 29 takeaways under his watch. Add 42 sacks during that stretch, and you’ve got a defense that’s not just solid - it’s game-changing.
So why isn’t Burke getting more love in the coaching carousel? One theory is that head coach DeMeco Ryans - a defensive mind himself - is getting most of the credit.
But the numbers tell a different story. Since Burke took the reins, this Texans defense has elevated to another level.
The Arizona Cardinals seem to have noticed - they’ve already put in a request to speak with him - but so far, they’re the only team to do so.
For the Raiders, a franchise that’s struggled defensively for the better part of two decades, this is an opportunity they can’t afford to ignore. Over the last 23 seasons, Las Vegas has finished in the top half of the league in scoring defense just once.
That’s not a blip - that’s a trend. And while the offensive potential with Mendoza, Bowers, and Jeanty is real, pairing that group with a defensive head coach like Burke - especially if Spytek can land a strong offensive coordinator - could be a game-changer.
This isn’t about zigging when the rest of the league zags. It’s about finding the right fit.
And if the Raiders are serious about turning things around, they’d be wise to give Matt Burke a long, hard look. Because while the spotlight has been elsewhere, Burke’s been building a contender in Houston - one defensive stop at a time.