Former Vikings OC Emerges as Top Raiders HC Target
Wondering what happened to former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak during this coaching carousel? He’s apparently biding his time for the Las Vegas Raiders‘ top job. One report this week claims the job is “his to lose.”
The buzz is real, but Kubiak’s track record as an OC has him in line to take over on Tom Brady’s team.
Five years removed from the Vikings, Kubiak could get a crack at a head coaching job.
Kubiak Now the Frontrunner in Vegas
It might be Kubiak and Mendoza in Sin City.
Raiders Zero in on Kubiak
The Raiders are trending toward Kubiak, which might explain why his name has vanished from most coaching vacancies.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Thursday, “The Raiders plan to interview Seattle OC Klint Kubiak over the weekend and then make a decision on their head coach, per sources. As one candidate predicted, ‘it’s probably (Kubiak’s) job to lose.'”
Silver and Black Pride‘s Bill Williamson added, “There have been reports that state Kubiak, who will coach in the Super Bowl on February 8, may opt to stay in Seattle in the 2026 season. He can agree to go coach somewhere at any time, but can’t be officially hired until after the game.”
“The Raiders are also believed to be interested in Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator Davis Webb and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LeFleur. But, until he says otherwise, the focus appears to be on Kubiak in Las Vegas.”
Betting markets also suggest that Kubiak is the Raiders’ frontrunner.
Kubiak — By the Numbers
Kubiak will lead Sam Darnold and friends in Super Bowl LX next weekend, and perhaps due to that exposure, the Raiders are knocking on his door. This is how it goes, and in fact, Kevin O’Connell found his way to the Vikings in 2022 by this exact path.
Kubiak’s resume evidently reads louder than the results. Across three different stops running an offense, the production has landed squarely in the middle of the league. The EPA/play rankings tell the story without much spin:
- 2021: 17th
- 2024: 25th
- 2025: 14th
Seattle’s current success muddies the picture a bit, as that surge lives on the defensive side of the ball. The offense remains functional, not driving the identity. Regarding “what have you done for me lately,” though, the Seahawks’ offense looked fantastic in the NFC Championship. Darnold delivered 346 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes, and no picks.
The Kubiak name still carries weight around the league, and that matters. Klint’s father, Gary Kubiak, has a track record that lingers in hiring rooms, and the association brings instant credibility. It helps that Gary’s boy is coaching a Super Bowl-bound offense.
Otherwise, Kubiak’s offensive resume is pedestrian.
A Fresh Start with the First Overall Pick
Meanwhile, Kubiak will be on deck to work with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza for the foreseeable future. The Raiders hold the top pick in April’s draft, and nearly every draft pundit has connected Mendoza to Las Vegas.
He’s the single quarterback prize in the upcoming draft, at least from a January standpoint, as other high-profile passers like LaNorris Sellers and Dante Moore opted to return to school in 2027. Alabama’s Ty Simpson could eventually blossom in the NFL, but he might need more development, unlike Mendoza, who is considered game-ready.
Kubiak would begin his head coaching career with the Heisman Trophy winner and a National Champion — a guy in Mendoza who has all the physical tools to prosper.
Yahoo Sports‘ Nate Tice mock-drafted Mendoza to Las Vegas this week and noted, “This pick feels more of a sure thing than whoever the Raiders are going to be hiring as head coach. Mendoza is a clean operator whose sheer professionalism could lift the floor up for a franchise that’s been in the doldrums for oh so long.”
“Mendoza is accurate, has good size, moves well in the pocket, and constantly finds the right answer from the pocket (he’s already a standout in situations like third down, the red zone and two-minute drives). He’s not an overwhelming athlete, but can create and scramble for yards when things go astray.”
Theoretically, the Raiders could also trade out of the No. 1 slot for a king’s ransom, but most don’t expect that outcome.
Tice added, “The Raiders’ offensive line needs a lot of work, but Las Vegas has an interesting collection of young skill players (Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, I’d even include Tre Tucker here) that would give Mendoza some immediate options as he starts in the NFL.”
“Mendoza’s game, work ethic and intelligence should help make his transition to the NFL not quite as daunting (more under center work notwithstanding) when compared to others jumping from a shotgun-heavy college offense. He’s exactly what the silver and black need.”
Other Players to Inherit
Aside from Mendoza, who isn’t even on the roster yet, what else would Kubiak work with in 2026? He’d start with these notably productive players under contract next season:
- Brock Bowers (TE)
- Jeremy Chinn (S)
- Maxx Crosby (EDGE)
- Ashton Jeanty (RB)
- Jackson Powers-Johnson (G)
- Charles Snowden (EDGE)
Sadly, most NFL teams have about twice this number of upper-echelon players, so Las Vegas must nail free agency in March and the draft for the next few years if Kubiak hopes to succeed.
But at least the offensive playmakers are there at running back and tight end.
Kubiak will turn 39 next month.
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