The final days of the Las Vegas Raiders’ search for their next head coach are nearing, and fans are starting to get some major nuggets from NFL insiders.
In an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN insider Adam Schefter noted that Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak would be given the head coaching job by either the Raiders or the Arizona Cardinals, the two teams that are without a head coach.
“Klint Kubiak is getting the Raiders or Cardinals job. He’s definitely getting one of those jobs,” Schefter said.
Now, a few hours later, after that announcement made by Schefter, fellow ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler had some news that will make a lot of Raiders fans happy and a lot of Cardinals fans upset.
According to his sources, Kubiak prefers the Raiders HC gig over the Cardinals.
“My sense in league circles talking to people say that he [Kubiak] would prefer the Raiders job over the Cardinals if he does go that route.”
That’s wonderful news for Raiders fans. However, it’s not 100% certain he will want to leave the Seahawks, according to Fowler.
“It is not a slam dunk he leaves Seattle,” Fowler said. “He’s been on multiple teams over the years. Just moved his family to the Northwest. It would take the right kind of situation for him to leave.”
Since 2021, Kubiak has been with a new team every year, including the Minnesota Vikings (2021), Denver Broncos (2022), San Francisco 49ers (2023), New Orleans Saints (2024), and the Seahawks this season.
The fact that Kubiak has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in such a short amount of time with the Seahawks could be a deciding factor in why he would want to stay in Seattle. Plus, he could wait and get a “better head coaching gig” next coaching cycle with another team.
Or, if he believes he could have success in Las Vegas, then why wait? Fowler also had this to say regarding Kubiak and the Raiders.
“It is believed that the target for Las Vegas and that number one pick with Fernando Mendoza would be Kubiak. Both teams have their backup plan.”
Again, nothing is certain in the NFL, but Fowler mentioned one name who’s still in the mix for the Raiders’ HC job: Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
“Eyes on Klint Kubiak for the Raiders job, but Panthers DC Ejiro Evero is still in the mix there,” Fowler said. “Some candidates have been eliminated but he has not. He conveyed detailed QB/offensive plan in in-person meeting with Raiders. Raiders regime and Evero have Denver ties.”
Evero has had two interviews with the Raiders and has served as the Panthers’ DC for the past three seasons.
At this point, especially now that Davis Webb has backed out of the running for the Raiders HC job, it feels like “It’s Kubiak or bust for #Raiders,” as ESPN’s Ryan McFadden said on a recent X post.
