The Las Vegas Raiders landed their offensive-minded head coach by reportedly agreeing to terms with current Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Now, the Raiders’ coaching search pivots to filling out the rest of the staff, and there are plenty of questions about who Kubiak will bring on as defensive coordinator. So, let’s explore a few options who have worked with Las Vegas’ new head coach in the past.
Aden Durde
Current position: Seahawks defensive coordinator
Kubiak connection: Spent 2025 season
together in Seattle
It might be tough to sell Durde on the idea of working with the Silver and Black since he’s already in a pretty good situation with the Seahawks. However, head coach Mike Macdonald calls the plays and gets all the credit for Seattle’s defense. So, if Durde wants a shot at being a head coach in a few years, the opportunity to run the show in Vegas could be enticing.
Karl Scott
Current position: Seahawks DBs coach/Defensive Passing game coordinator
Kubiak connection: Spent 2021 together in Minnesota, 2025 in Seattle
Scott feels like a more realistic option since he’s not currently a defensive coordinator and has worked with Kubiak for more than one season. Also, Scott is one step away from being a DC, owning the passing game coordinator title in Seattle. The Seahawks have ranked 13th, 21st, 11th and 10th in passing yards allowed during the four respective seasons he’s been there.
Joe Woods
Current position: Raiders DBs coach/Defensive Passing game coordinator
Kubiak connection: Spent 2016-2018 together in Denver, 2024 in New Orleans
If Kubiak wants to go with someone who is in his network and has experience calling plays, Woods would likely be the favorite. He’s been a defensive coordinator for seven seasons and with three different teams: the Broncos (2017-2018), the Browns (2020-2022) and the Saints (2023-2024). Woods called two top 10 defenses in terms of points allowed and has finished with five units that were in the top half of the league. Plus, he’s an in-house candidate who already knows the defensive players.
Marcus Robertson
Current position: Raiders defensive backs coach
Kubiak connection: Spent 2017-2018 together in Denver, 2024 in New Orleans
Along the same lines, Robertson is already in the building and has worked with Kubiak for multiple seasons in the past. He’s never been a defensive coordinator, which could be a positive or negative trait, depending on whether Kubiak wants a proven commodity or to give someone an opportunity they haven’t had yet.
Roy Anderson
Current position: Eagles CBs coach
Kubiak connection: Spent 2020-2021 together in Minnesota
There’s been a lot of talk about coaching trees this offseason, as part of the reason why Kubiak got the job in Vegas is that he stems from the highly coveted Mike/Kyle Shanahan tree. What Shanahan disciples are to offensive-minded coaches, Vic Fangio disciples are to defensive-minded coaches. Anderson has spent the last two seasons working for Fangio in addition to two years (2017-2018) with the Chicago Bears.
Also, Anderson worked under Clint Hurtt in Seattle during the 2023 campaign, and Hurtt is another branch on the Fangio tree. If Kubiak wants to run that style of defense, the Eagles’ current cornerbacks coach feels like the best bet within his network.
Steve Wilks
Current position: Fired as Jets defensive coordinator
Kubiak connection: Spent 2023 together in San Francisco
This one might be a bit of a stretch since Kubiak and Wilks only spent one season together. Additionally, the latter was fired after the New York Jets finished dead last in points allowed this past season, and he’s only had two defenses finish in the top half of the NFL for points allowed in six seasons as either a head coach or defensive coordinator. But Wilks does have experience in the role, and his unit was third in points allowed during the 2023 season with the 49ers.
Kris Kocurek
Current position: 49ers DL coach
Kubiak connection: Spent 2023 together in San Francisco
Another loose connection with just one year working alongside Kubiak, but Kocurek is a well-respected defensive line coach in the NFL. He played the position for a couple of years in the league and has been coaching it since 2006, dating back to his days as a college coach. Kocurek has never been a defensive coordinator, but if he wants a promotion, the Raiders could provide that opportunity.
Rob Leonard
Current position: Raiders DL coach/Defensive Run Game coordinator
Kubiak connection: none
We’re deviating here since Leonard has never worked with Kubiak. However, Leonard has done a good job as the Raiders’ defensive line coach over the last few years, getting the most out of players like Malcolm Koonce (pre-torn ACL), K’Lavon Chaisson and Adam Butler. That led to adding run game coordinator to his title this season, a step towards calling the entire defense. Also, Maxx Crosby has raved about Leonard in the past, so keeping him on the coaching staff could help ease any tensions with the star pass-rusher.
Jim Schwartz
Current position: Browns defensive coordinator
Kubiak connection: none
Another potential candidate that doesn’t have any direct ties to Kubiak. But Schwartz has been in the league since 1996 and likely has some connections and network crossover with Klint’s father, Gary Kubiak. Also, Schwartz has 22 years of experience as either an NFL head coach or a defensive coordinator to be someone the first-year head coach can lean on.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Cleveland is trying to keep Schwartz as the defensive coordinator under new head coach Todd Monken. However, Schwartz is unhappy that he didn’t get the head job and is a potential candidate to join Kubiak’s staff in Las Vegas.
