As the NFL coaching carousel slows to a crawl, only two franchises remain without head coaches: the Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. After an offseason that saw a staggering 10 head-coaching vacancies open up, these two teams-ironically among the first to begin their searches-are now the last ones standing. And with February fast approaching, both organizations are still working to finalize their next move.
What’s clear at this stage is that both the Raiders and Cardinals are zeroing in on offensive minds. Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur have emerged as the top names in the mix.
Kubiak is drawing strong interest from both teams. He’s expected to get a second interview with each franchise this weekend, and there’s a growing sense around the league that he’s the frontrunner for the job in Las Vegas. NFL insiders have pointed to the Raiders as having a 60-40 edge to land Kubiak, while Arizona may be on the outside looking in.
That said, the Cardinals aren’t without options. Mike LaFleur, who has helped guide the Rams' offense under Sean McVay, is also a finalist in Arizona and has already completed a second interview. If Kubiak ultimately heads to Vegas, LaFleur could slide into the lead for the job in the desert.
The Raiders, meanwhile, appear to have just one other finalist in the mix: Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. He’s the only other candidate to receive a second interview with the team, but the buzz continues to lean heavily toward Kubiak.
Both Kubiak and LaFleur represent the new wave of NFL coaching talent-young, innovative play-callers with experience in systems that emphasize quarterback development and offensive balance. For teams like the Raiders and Cardinals, who are looking to reset and build sustainable success, hiring the right offensive architect could be the key to turning the corner.
Now, it’s just a matter of who makes the first move-and whether that decision creates a domino effect for the final two coaching vacancies in the league.