As the Las Vegas Raiders continue their search for a new head coach, one name that had fans buzzing - Klint Kubiak - appears to be slipping out of the picture.
Kubiak, currently the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, has been a popular choice among Raider Nation. His offensive pedigree, NFL lineage, and recent work with Geno Smith and the Seahawks' offense made him an intriguing candidate. But as the week rolls on, the signs are pointing away from a Silver and Black future for Kubiak - at least for now.
Here’s where things stand: the Raiders have already conducted second interviews with four candidates, a clear indication they’re in the final stages of their decision-making process. Kubiak, however, hasn’t been among them. And with the Super Bowl bye week clock ticking, that window is closing fast.
Once the NFL calendar moves past the bye week, teams are no longer permitted to interview assistant coaches from active playoff teams until after the Super Bowl. That’s key, because it means if the Raiders don’t bring Kubiak in for a second interview this week, they’ll have to wait until after the big game to revisit the possibility - and by then, they may have already made their hire.
That delay - or lack of movement - has led some insiders to believe Kubiak is no longer in serious contention. Former Raiders beat writer Vincent Bonsignore noted this week that, without a second interview on the books, Kubiak may already be out of the running.
“Klint Kubiak has not come in for a second interview,” Bonsignore said. “Unless we hear at some point that he’s agreed to come in here for a second interview, I think for right now you almost have to remove him from consideration.”
Bonsignore also suggested that Kubiak may simply be staying put in Seattle, which would certainly be welcome news for the Seahawks. Under his guidance, Seattle’s offense showed flashes of creativity and balance, and keeping him in the building could be a big win for their continuity heading into next season.
“It sounds like [Kubiak] is going to stay in Seattle and that’s a great decision for him and it will make him even more marketable,” Bonsignore added. “I feel like it’s a two-horse race at this point and my own opinion on this is that one is an extremely easy and positive sell in Davis Webb with the fan base and I think the fans get behind him.”
Still, there’s a sliver of uncertainty. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Raiders are expected to bring in another candidate for an interview this week. She didn’t name names, which leaves the door technically open for Kubiak - but unless that mystery candidate turns out to be the Seahawks OC, the odds of him landing in Vegas seem slim.
As for the candidates who have received second interviews, here’s the current rundown: Brian Daboll, Joe Brady, Davis Webb, and Ejiro Evero. But the pool has already thinned.
Daboll is off the board, having accepted the offensive coordinator role with the Tennessee Titans. Brady, meanwhile, is staying in Buffalo - not as OC, but as the Bills’ new head coach.
That narrows the field to Webb and Evero, and both bring something different to the table.
Webb, a rising star and former quarterback, is seen as a strong cultural fit - someone who could energize the locker room and fan base alike. Evero, on the other hand, is a respected defensive mind with coordinator experience and a reputation for building tough, disciplined units.
With second interviews in the books and the Raiders’ options narrowing, all signs point to a decision coming soon. Whether it’s Webb’s offensive potential or Evero’s defensive acumen, the Raiders are inching closer to naming their next head coach - and unless something changes quickly, it doesn’t look like Klint Kubiak will be part of that final conversation.