The Las Vegas Raiders are deep into their head coaching search, and while it once looked like a two-man race, things just got more complicated.
For a while, the focus had zeroed in on Klint Kubiak, the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, and Davis Webb, the Denver Broncos’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. But with Webb pulling his name from consideration, the Raiders are now in a holding pattern-waiting on Kubiak, and hoping he’s ready to make the jump after the Super Bowl.
That’s a risky proposition. There’s growing buzz that Seattle is making a strong push to keep Kubiak on staff, and if he stays put, the Raiders could be left scrambling.
Raider Nation hasn’t forgotten last year’s coaching carousel heartbreak when Ben Johnson turned them down late in the process. Now, with the team seemingly all-in on Kubiak, there’s understandable anxiety about history repeating itself.
But there’s another name still in the mix-one that hasn’t gotten quite as much attention, but maybe should.
Ejiro Evero: Still Standing in the Shadows
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is still very much in the running. While Kubiak is expected to have a second interview with the Raiders on Saturday, Evero is the only other candidate from the original pool who’s already had two interviews.
That’s notable. Las Vegas interviewed 15 candidates in total, but only seven remain viable at this stage. And while names like Mike LaFleur, Nate Scheelhaase, Chris Shula, Vance Joseph, and Matt Nagy are still technically on the board, none of them have gone beyond a single meeting.
Evero, on the other hand, has reportedly made a strong impression-especially with his offensive vision. Fowler noted that Evero laid out a detailed plan for the quarterback position and offensive structure during his in-person session with the team. That’s a crucial point for a defensive-minded coach, especially in today’s NFL, where offensive innovation is often the deciding factor in close coaching battles.
It’s also worth mentioning that Evero, like Kubiak, has ties to the Raiders' current leadership. The Denver connection runs deep-Evero spent time with the Broncos, as did Raiders general manager John Spytek, who held a key personnel role in Denver during Gary Kubiak’s Super Bowl run in 2015. Those shared roots matter in the NFL, where trust and familiarity can tip the scales.
The Waiting Game
So where does that leave the Raiders? Still in limbo, for now.
Jordan Schultz reported that Kubiak remains the favorite, but there’s been no official decision-and no guarantee that Kubiak even wants the job. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has suggested that Kubiak is likely to leave Seattle, but even that comes with a grain of salt given recent misses in coaching predictions.
What’s clear is that the Raiders’ search has been deliberate, maybe even methodical. They’ve taken their time, and while that patience could pay off if Kubiak signs on, it could also leave them exposed if he stays with the Seahawks.
That’s why Evero’s presence in the mix matters. He may not be the headline name, but he’s still standing while others have quietly faded from the picture.
He’s interviewed twice. He’s presented a clear offensive plan.
And he has ties to the front office. All of that makes him more than just a fallback option-he’s a legitimate candidate.
So while the coaching search in Las Vegas has been defined by waiting, it hasn’t been without movement. Kubiak might be Plan A, but Evero is still very much in play. And if Kubiak decides to stay in Seattle, the Raiders may already have a Plan B who’s ready-and prepared-for the job.