It’s the kind of swing Las Vegas has been chasing while cycling through coaches, and the idea is to get a quarterback-friendly play caller in place before the franchise uses the No. 1 overall pick to reshape the roster and the identity of the offense.
Why the Raiders picked Kubiak and why Tom Brady matters here
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Tom Brady and Kubiak “hit it off” in the first interview, with a source describing them as “all ball,” and that early momentum carried through the week.
On the field, Kubiak’s resume is built on coordinating and calling offenses, and his 2025 Seahawks unit put up big production with Sam Darnold throwing for over 4,000 yards while Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards.
Source: After meeting Saturday with Las Vegas and Arizona, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak intends to try to work out a deal to become the next head coach of the Raiders. pic.twitter.com/KlFQiVlDy4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2026
Add in the coaching bloodlines, since he’s the son of Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, and you can see why Las Vegas views him as a long-term program builder.
What it means for the roster and the No. 1 pick
The Raiders are positioned to pair a new head coach with a premium quarterback selection, with reporting that Las Vegas is expected to target Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the top of the draft, making this a true new coach, new quarterback reset.
It also means Kubiak walks into a situation where the urgency is real, because the AFC West is brutal and the roster still needs work, especially up front and on defense, even if the offense has some building blocks.
Breaking: After meeting Saturday with Las Vegas, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak intends to try to work out a deal to become the next head coach of the Raiders, a source told @AdamSchefter.
— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2026
Get breaking news alerts from Adam Schefter through the ESPN App: https://t.co/7IWmEn6GHD pic.twitter.com/Yip0DlLpk7
Kubiak will finish the season with Seattle, then turn the page immediately to free agency, staff hires, and the draft, and the Raiders are betting that his recent play-calling success translates into the stability they have not had in years.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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