The Raiders made the decision to move on from Pete Carroll after an extremely disappointing 2025 season that will go down as one of the Raiders worst seasons in history, and one of the worst single seasons for
an NFL franchise. The Raiders have back to back one and done head coaches and have to nail their hire going into 2026. Las Vegas holds 10 draft picks, and likely will acquire more along with the 2nd most cap space in the NFL and a track to grab their franchise quarterback. Frustrations surround Maxx Crosby, but like most things in the NFL a good quarterback and head coach solve a lot of issues.
“Retread” Hires
Las Vegas has hired their share of round two coaches with Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, and Pete Carroll and well all three have failed. If they go this route again, the hire has to be right and a good fit with someone who’s going to not just shape the culture but establish what went wrong in their previous go around and fix that headed into 2026.
Kliff Kingsburg, Commanders OC
- The former Cardinals HC almost became the Raiders OC in 2024 before flipping to the Commanders where in 2024 the offense ranked 7th overall, 5th in rushing, and 17th in passing though largely inflated by Jayden Daniels as a runner. Kingsburg was 28-37 as a head coach out of college including 0-1 in the playoffs. His offense has seen a drop in 2025 though they rank 4th in rushing. Now with 6 years of NFL experience, Kingsbury likely gets a second shot to develop another quarterback as he did with Patrick Mahomes and Daniels. He implements a strong college designed run system easy on quarterbacks with RPO’s similar to what Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza have thrived in. His offenses would rank 9th in points per drive and 12th in yards per play in the NFL since 2019.
Robert Saleh, 49ers DC
- The 49ers are going to try and keep Saleh, and it’s worth it. The Raiders attempted to draw him to be the teams defensive coordinator in 2025 under Pete Carrol but couldn’t. The former Jets HC was 20-36 largely due to offensive struggles and landing a good offensive coordinator will be the first step in his hiring process or he will likely fail again. His defensive units since 2017 have ranked outside the top 12 just twice (2017, 2020, and 2021) and he quickly turned the 32nd ranked Jets defense in 2021 to 4th in 2022 and 3rd in both 2023 and 2024. His unit ranks 11th this season despite missing three All-Pro defenders, and his defensive philosophy, attitude, and motivation is not something to be pushed aside. Saleh will need to find a young OC with a franchise QB but he’s shown the ability to turn around franchise’s cultures and defensive units quickly, just upgrading from Nathaniel Hackett is the biggest step.
Brian Flores, Vikings DC
- Flores is in a similar boat to Saleh, he’ll need to get things right offensively but his defensive units have never failed to be impressive ranking inside the top 15 five out of his 6 seasons with the sole exception being the 32nd ranked 2019 Dolphins defense that became 6th in 2020 and he finished 24-25 in his NFL coaching career. Flores has history with Patrick Graham and Rob Leonard and the two could also stay in Las Vegas. Flores has turned many careers around in both Miami, New England, and now Minnesota and has established himself as a culture building elite defensive mind, but he’ll need to get better with the offensive systems which could shy teams away along with his pending legal action.
Mike McCarthy, Former Cowboys HC
- The very “Mark Davis” hire would be Mike McCarthy, and that likely can’t happen. The 62 year old is 174-112 in his career including a Super Bowl Championship and 1-11 in the playoffs. He’s been fired twice now by the Packers and Cowboys and McCarthy could land another job in 2026 to rebound a teams culture and winning philosophy. His offensive is outdated but semi successful in the NFL and he does build strong defensive units with exceptional coaching staffs around him. McCarthy has no issue getting a team to rebound and start to become competitive, it’s keeping them competitive that’s the issue.
Offensive Minds
Joe Brady, Bills OC
- The former LSU, Panthers, and now Bills OC has had an up and down career but at 36 years old he looks to be in line for a HC job this year. Brady could head to Cincinnati if/when Zac Taylor is fired. Brady’s offenses have ranked top 6 each of the last three seasons and his rushing offense has ranked top ten in all three years as well. While largely influenced off Josh Allen, Brady has done a good job implementing motion, run options, RPOs, pass protection, effective run game systems, and his playcaling has generated success. The offense won’t feature Allen in Las Vegas but it’s build to allow the success from a quarterback and with NFL experience, Brady will be a hot name for a good reason.
Klint Kubiak, Seahawks OC
- Kubiak has put his name on the map this season and his offenses have been up and down in his career so far. In 2021, the Vikings ranked 12th before the 2024 Saints arnked 21st and now the Seahawks rank 6th. The good news, is Kubiak has succeeded with three different offenses, but he has his struggles as a run system offensive coordinator ranking 31st, 27th, and 21st in efficiency in all three years. He has a strong track record with Gary Kubiak (duh) and Kyle Shanahan and has gotten a ton out of Sam Darnold this season. At 38, he may still be a year off, but he’s likely to capitalize off the success of this year and he’s done a good job implementing quick pass games, RPOs, motion, TE utilization, big slot options, and a RAC boys approach.
Adam Stenavich, Packers OC
- The 42 year old former 49ers assistant has made the offensive line his core philosophy in his career spending 2014-2016 as a college OL coach before 2017-2021 as an NFL OL coach before transitioning to OC in 2022. Stenavich loves to utilize the run game, develops and identifies OL talent well, works motion into his receivers, implements quick passes and mid range attacks well, and highly features the TE well. He’s ranked top 10 in efficiency each year since 2022 and his offense has ranked 11th, 5th, and 9th in the last three seasons along with ranking 3rd in efficiency as a rushing attack in both 2024 and 2025. Stenavich is flying under the radar but he’s done well building around Jordan Love while developing him and Malik Willis along with the offensive line.
Mike LaFleur, Rams OC
- LaFleur doesn’t call plays in Los Angeles, and at 38 years old he could be a year removed. The younger brother of Packers coach Matt MaFleur, Mike has experience with Kyle Shannahan, LaFleur, and Sean McVay so he genuinely can’t have a stronger coaching pedigree to build off. He’s had experience with a playcaller in New York and struggled, but with more experience could showcase the chance to become a head coach. LaFleur likes to implement the bigger run designs, with quick motion, YAC opportunities, and has gotten success with the TE in both New York and Los Angeles. He’s a high risk, high reward hire but if things click he’s on an upward path for decades.
Todd Monken, Ravens OC
- At 59 years old, time is running thin for Monken as a head coach candidate. He’s spent 7 years as an NFL OC (2016-2019, 2023-2025) along with coaching Georgia between which includes Raiders superstar Brock Bowers. In his 7 years his offensive units have ranked top 10 in 4 and in 2025 he’s ranked 14th despite missing key players including Lamar Jackson to injury. Prior to Baltimore, Monken struggled with run efficiency, though his efficiency with non QB runs has increased in Baltimore while also ranking as the 9th most efficient passing offense in that span. He’s a highly experienced, non exciting candidate, but Monken showcases the required offensive systems to succeed.
Defensive Minds
Jesse Minter, Chargers DC
- The 42 year old has been all around the country working at Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Indiana State, Georgia State, the Ravens, Vanderbilt, Michigan, and now the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s one of the brightest young NFL minds and has history with Mike MacDonald and both Harbaugh’s. His units have ranked 1st and 6th in points and 7th and 2nd in yards while also ranking 3rd in efficiency the last two seasons. Minter is an elite defensive mind, does a phenomenal job mixing coverages, utilizing big safeties in the box, creative blitz designs, and creating relentless simulated pressure, along with mixed matched bracket coverages to deceive quarterbacks. He’s an exceptional coach as a defensive mind, and shouldn’t have an issue drawing an offensive mind to come with him.
Chris Shula, Rams DC
- The Rams defensive coordinator has broken onto the scene this off-season and at 39 years old will likely be another highly sought after candidate similar to Minter. He’s worked primarily under the Rams since 2017 and his strong legacy of David, Don, and Mike Shula will assist him as well. In two years his defense has ranked 17th and 8th in defense and 7th and 12th in efficiency so the metrics aren’t as favorable as they are to Minter. Shula likely will need 1-2 more years before he’s a top coaching candidate but could see his draw in 2026. He won’t be a nepotism hire, and his experience working with Sean McVay could entice a team into his hire. Shula does a good job implementing zone coverages, generating good pressure up front, implementing a strong linebacker focused defense, and relying on safeties with bracket assignments. Las Vegas would need to bring in a highly innovative OC, possibly LaFleur, with Shula to make the hire hit.
Matt Burke, Texans DC
- Burke isn’t discussed enough but the Texans DC has sneakily made his way into a top candidate as a head coach. He’s worked in the NFL since 2004 and the 49 year old has seen his 5 seasons as a defensive coordinator all with success only ranking outside the top 15 once in 2018 at 29th, while largely inflated to DeMeco Ryans he implements a similar system that starts on the defensive line and tasks defensive backs to be competitive, physical, man to man cornerbacks similar to Brian Flores. Over the last two seasons, QB’s average a 59.2 QBR against the Texans defense and Burke is largely a part for their high pressure, sack, and win rate numbers something Las Vegas could benefit from. Burke has held playcalling duties since week 4 of the 2025 season and the Texans defense has ranked 4th or higher in every category since that time including leading the NFL in defensive EPA per play, per pass play, per rush and having the most negative WAR and EPA generated. Additionally, in his first season as a defensive playcaller since 2018, Houston ranks 2nd in pressure rate, 5th in pressure to sack rate, and 11th in passing EPA allowed among all defenses since 2010 and top 25 in all metrics since 2004.
Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC
- The 45 year old former player has quickly rised the ranks mainly as a defensive line coach before landing as a DC the last two seasons after serving as an assistant head coach for two seasons. IN his last two seasons as a defensive coordinator, his units rank on average top 15 in all but three stats and 13th in efficiency. His track record under Mike McDaniel, Bill O’Brien, Rex Ryan, and John Harbaugh is deep which will benefit him. He’s a high energy, player first coach, but questions do remain about how effective he can be as a defensive coaching candidate. Weaver likely has a couple more years before he’s a head coach but he’ll bring a versatile, defensive front 7 focused unit to whatever team he lands at. In the last 10 games for Miami they have ranked 7th or better in all but 2 categories including 4th in defensive EPA generated.
Longshots
Declan Doyle, Bears OC
- It’s probably too soon for the 29 year old Bears OC but Doyle has a strong track record working with the Saints under Sean Payton in 2019-2022 and then the Broncos in 2023 and 2024 as a QB assistant and TE coach before now being under Ben Johnson. The Bears offense has been electric, and a large part of the fundamentals have likely translated to Doyle from Johnson and Payton. He’s been stated as a TE focused coach and his track record with successful offensive minded coaches with different philosophies likely could push for some eyes to get on him this off-season in head coaching interviews. Doyle would be able to bring youth becoming the youngest NFL head coach in history barely beating Sean McVay who didn’t have much more experience than Doyle when hw as hired. There’s a big risk, but the success if it hits could be similar to a Rams situation.
Grant Udinski, Jaguars OC
- At 30 years old, Udinski has not only been pivotal in the career revival of two quarterbacks but he’s also been keyed into the Sean McVay tree his entire time in the NFL. Udinski served as the QB coach and Co-OC with the Vikings in 2024 seeing the career revival of Sam Darnold and has spent 2025 with the Jaguars helping to turn around Trevor Lawrence with the assistance of Liam Coen. Udinski is also a big swing or go home coach, but he’s likely to get interest as is and has the support of Coen, Lawrence, McVay, and O’Connell in his favor as well. He’s a heavy play action, motion, wide zone coach that is focused on the fundamentals on offense with a key tie into strong YAC opportunities to implement wide concepts. The Raiders would be taking a risk but Udinski could be on the board somewhere.
