The Seattle Seahawks are two wins away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and while their roster is packed with talent, the coaching staff deserves just as much credit. One name that's starting to generate serious buzz around the league: offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak has played a pivotal role in shaping Seattle’s offense this season, helping guide a unit that’s been both efficient and explosive when it’s mattered most. And now, with the Seahawks surging into the NFC Championship Game, his name is surfacing in head coaching conversations - particularly in Las Vegas.
According to reports, the Raiders have strong interest in Kubiak as they search for their next head coach. There’s a unique wrinkle here: Raiders part-owner Tom Brady will be in the broadcast booth for the Seahawks-Rams matchup - the very game where Kubiak will be calling plays. That puts Brady in a rare position: evaluating a potential coaching hire in real time, while on national television.
It’s an unusual situation, no doubt. Brady is both a stakeholder in the Raiders’ future and a broadcaster for the NFL’s present.
He’ll be making observations for the audience while also, potentially, scouting his next head coach alongside Raiders general manager John Spytek. It’s not exactly standard operating procedure, but it’s the reality in today’s NFL - where lines between roles can blur when big decisions are on the line.
Now, let’s talk about Kubiak as a candidate. He’s earned his shot.
The Seahawks’ offensive turnaround this season didn’t happen by accident. Kubiak has shown an ability to maximize his personnel, adapt to different defensive looks, and maintain a balanced attack - all traits you want in a head coach, especially one tasked with developing a young quarterback.
And that’s where the Raiders come in. With the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, they’re widely expected to take a quarterback - Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the name most often linked to them. If Kubiak lands in Vegas, he’d likely be the one tasked with grooming that rookie from day one.
But it won’t be an easy road. The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 season and have holes across the roster.
The offensive line needs work. The defense is still a few pieces away.
And the quarterback, whoever it is, will be entering a high-pressure situation in a franchise that’s been searching for stability for years.
For Kubiak, the opportunity would be massive - but so would the expectations. If the Raiders struggle in Year 1 under his leadership, how much patience will ownership have? Will Brady and company give him the runway to build something long-term, or will the pressure to deliver quickly cut that leash short?
There’s also a perception factor to consider. Some fans in Vegas might be wary of another Seattle connection after Pete Carroll’s brief tenure with the organization.
But that’s more optics than substance. The truth is, Seattle has been one of the NFL’s most consistent franchises over the past two decades.
If anything, bringing in someone from that culture could be exactly what the Raiders need.
For now, all eyes will be on the NFC Championship Game. Not just because it’s a ticket to the Super Bowl, but because it could serve as a live audition for Klint Kubiak. And with Tom Brady watching from the booth - with both a microphone and a front-office mindset - the stakes go beyond just the scoreboard.