The Las Vegas Raiders have been deliberate and methodical in their head coaching search, sitting down with 15 candidates over the past three weeks. While three of those names have since taken jobs elsewhere, the Raiders remain one of four teams still in the hunt for a new leader heading into the 2026 season. And while the franchise hasn’t tipped its hand, the chessboard is starting to take shape-and the Raiders are playing the long game.
The latest development? A second interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
That meeting is set to take place just one day after Las Vegas sat down with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll. On the surface, it looks like a team doing its due diligence.
But dig a little deeper, and it starts to feel like a calculated move by GM John Spytek-one that could have ripple effects beyond the Raiders’ own search.
Let’s set the stage. Of the 10 NFL teams making coaching changes this offseason, six have already made their hires.
That leaves four open seats: Las Vegas, Buffalo, Arizona, and Cleveland. Among those, Buffalo arguably holds the most appeal, thanks in no small part to the presence of 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen.
That makes the Bills job a hot commodity-especially for offensive minds like Brady and Daboll, both of whom have worked directly with Allen and have been floated as potential successors to Sean McDermott.
So when the Raiders line up back-to-back interviews with Daboll and Brady, both of whom are in the mix for the Buffalo job, it raises an eyebrow. Is this a genuine pursuit? Or is Spytek applying pressure, trying to force the Bills to make their move and clear the board for Las Vegas to choose from the remaining top-tier candidates?
It wouldn’t be the first time Las Vegas was ahead of the curve. The Raiders previously met-or at least attempted to meet-with both Jeff Hafley and Jesse Minter before they landed gigs with the Dolphins and Ravens, respectively. That kind of proactive approach suggests a front office that’s not just reacting to the market, but shaping it.
And here’s where things get even more interesting. The Raiders and Bills are both reportedly eyeing Davis Webb, a fast-rising coaching prospect.
If the Denver Broncos had advanced to the Super Bowl, Las Vegas might’ve had a timing advantage in interviewing Webb. But with Denver’s season over, both the Raiders and Bills are now free to engage with him.
That levels the playing field-but also raises the stakes.
If Spytek’s maneuvers push Buffalo to hire either Daboll or Brady, Las Vegas could find itself with a clearer path to Webb-or even Klint Kubiak, another name linked to the Raiders. In either scenario, the front office gains leverage. They either secure their preferred candidate or buy themselves more time to make a measured decision.
And let’s not overlook one more wrinkle. While Joe Brady was in Las Vegas for his second interview, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was in Seattle, calling the NFC Championship Game for Fox Sports.
Given Spytek’s public acknowledgment that he consults with the seven-time Super Bowl champion on major decisions, it’s notable that this meeting occurred without him in the room. That absence could suggest the interview was more about optics than final evaluations.
At the end of the day, this coaching search isn’t just about finding the right person-it’s about playing the process. And so far, Spytek and the Raiders are navigating it with a mix of patience, pressure, and strategic timing. Whether that leads to Joe Brady, Davis Webb, Klint Kubiak, or someone else entirely, one thing is clear: Las Vegas is playing to win, and they’re not afraid to move the pieces to make it happen.