Mark Davis sat in front of reporters on January 6, 2026, and said something that caught everyone off guard. The Las Vegas Raiders owner, known for making bold moves that don’t always pan out, acknowledged the obvious: his team had just endured one of the worst seasons in franchise history. But it was what he said next that revealed how much had changed.
“We’re not beginning with the end in mind,” general manager John Spytek explained to the media. “We want a meticulous build that will set us up for years of success in the future.”
That’s not typical Raiders talk. This organization has spent decades chasing quick fixes, splashy hires, and veteran quarterbacks who were supposed to change everything. This time, with the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a clean slate, they’re preaching patience. The question is whether they mean it.
The Interviews Begin
Within 48 hours of firing Pete Carroll after a dismal 3-14 season, the Raiders requested interviews with an eclectic mix of candidates. Some names made sense. Others raised eyebrows.
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph leads the list of established coaches. He’s been a head coach before with the Broncos from 2017-2018, posting a forgettable 11-21 record. But he’s rebuilt his reputation as one of the league’s best defensive minds, and the Broncos’ defense this season has been legitimate.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak represents the hot young coordinator category. At 39, he’s the son of Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak and has turned Seattle’s offense into one of the most dynamic in the league. He’s exactly the kind of offensive-minded coach who could develop a rookie quarterback. NFL insiders are calling him one of the most sought-after names in this hiring cycle.
Then there’s Davis Webb, the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. He’s 30 years old and has never been a coordinator in the NFL. His candidacy raised eyebrows across the league, but here’s the thing: Webb has worked closely with some of the best quarterbacks in football and is considered a rising star in coaching circles. He’s done impressive work with Bo Nix over the past two seasons. The Raiders interviewing him suggests they’re serious about finding someone who can develop whoever they draft first overall.
Kevin Stefanski, the former Cleveland Browns head coach, brings both experience and credibility. He won NFL Coach of the Year twice, in 2020 and 2023, which is remarkable considering he did it in Cleveland. He finished 46-58 overall, but that record doesn’t tell the full story of what he accomplished with limited resources and constant quarterback issues. He’s already interviewing with multiple teams, and the Giants are rumored to be his preferred destination if they don’t land John Harbaugh.
Matt Nagy rounds out the initial interview list. The Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator and former Chicago Bears head coach brings Andy Reid’s offensive system and experience working with Patrick Mahomes. But his time in Chicago was rocky at best, and many see this interview as more of an intelligence-gathering mission about the Chiefs’ operation than a serious candidacy.
The Latest Developments
This week, the Raiders expanded their search significantly. According to reports from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the team requested interviews with five additional candidates, all from playoff teams.
Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent memory. After his defense surrendered an NFL-record 534 points in 2024, he cut that number to 380 in 2025. That’s the kind of transformational coaching that catches attention.
The Rams’ entire coaching brain trust is being targeted. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase have all received interview requests. The Rams’ success this season makes their staff the most picked-over in the league, and the Raiders are getting in line.
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley adds another experienced name to the mix. At 45, he’s built one of the league’s most fundamentally sound defenses and has previous head coaching experience at the college level.
The Tom Brady Factor
Here’s where things get interesting. Tom Brady owns a minority stake in the Raiders and will work alongside Spytek in the coaching search. That’s not a ceremonial role. Brady has strong opinions about what makes a great coach, and he’s not shy about sharing them.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion brings instant credibility to any conversation. Potential coaching candidates know that working with Brady means access to one of the greatest minds in football history. But it also means accountability. Brady doesn’t accept mediocrity, and he has no patience for coaches who can’t develop quarterbacks.
The Raiders are expected to draft either Shedeur Sanders or Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Both are talented, but both will need serious development work. Brady’s involvement suggests the Raiders understand they can’t afford to mess this up.
What Makes This Search Different
Every team says they’re committed to building the right way. Most don’t follow through. The Raiders have a history of impatience, of firing coaches after one or two bad seasons, of chasing big names instead of the right fits.
But several factors suggest this time might actually be different.
First, they have Spytek. He’s a first-time general manager with a reputation for patience and process. He’s not tied to any particular coach or system, which gives him flexibility. His comments about wanting a “meticulous build” weren’t just talking points. He genuinely seems to understand that quick fixes don’t work.
Second, they have the first overall pick. That’s leverage. Every coach interviewing for this job knows he’ll get to hand-pick a franchise quarterback. That’s rare. Most coaches inherit quarterbacks or have to make do with veterans. Starting fresh with a rookie you believe in is a massive advantage.
Third, they have time. NFL rules prevent teams from interviewing coaches whose teams are still in the playoffs until after their season ends. The Raiders are being patient, talking to available candidates now and planning to pursue others later. They’re not rushing into a decision.
Fourth, they have resources. The Raiders play in a state-of-the-art stadium in a city that attracts talent. They have salary cap flexibility. They have draft capital. A coach taking this job isn’t walking into a rebuild with nothing to work with.
The Warning Signs
But let’s be honest about the challenges. This is still the Raiders, an organization that has made 10 playoff appearances in the past 40 years. The dysfunction isn’t just bad luck. It’s been systematic.
Mark Davis, for all his good intentions, has a track record of making impulsive decisions. He hired Jon Gruden and gave him a 10-year, $100 million contract. That didn’t work out. He hired Josh McDaniels and paired him with Dave Ziegler. That lasted less than two seasons. He brought in Pete Carroll at 73 years old and fired him after one year.
The pattern is clear: big splash, high expectations, rapid failure, start over. Breaking that cycle requires more than good intentions. It requires discipline.
The other concern is patience. Spytek talks about building the right way and not expecting immediate wins. That’s the right approach. But will ownership accept two or three more losing seasons while a young quarterback develops? The Las Vegas market expects winners. The fans have been patient for decades. At some point, talking about the future stops being enough.
What to Watch For
The Raiders’ decision will reveal their true priorities. If they hire a defensive coordinator like Joseph or Evero, it signals they’re prioritizing culture and accountability over offensive innovation. If they go with Kubiak or Scheelhaase, they’re betting on offensive creativity and quarterback development. If they shock everyone and hire Webb, they’re making the ultimate high-risk, high-reward gamble on potential.
The offensive coordinator hire matters just as much. If they bring in someone like Brian Daboll, the former Giants head coach who developed Josh Allen in Buffalo, it shows they’re serious about quarterback development even if the head coach comes from a defensive background.
The timeline matters too. Teams that take their time and interview 10-15 candidates before making a decision tend to make better hires than teams that rush into early favorites. The Raiders have interviewed 10 candidates so far and are requesting more. That’s encouraging.
The Bottom Line
The Las Vegas Raiders have the first overall pick, a clean organizational structure, and the involvement of Tom Brady. They have everything they need to get this right. The question is whether they have the patience and discipline to actually follow through.
Spytek said they’re not beginning with the end in mind. They want a meticulous build for years of success. If they mean it, this coaching search represents a fundamental shift in how the Raiders operate. If they don’t, we’ll be writing this same story in three years with different names and the same disappointing results.
The difference between those two outcomes comes down to one thing: whether the Raiders can finally get out of their own way.
Key Insights
The Raiders are interviewing a diverse mix of candidates spanning defensive coordinators, offensive innovators, and unproven young coaches, suggesting a genuinely open search process rather than a predetermined outcome.
Tom Brady’s minority ownership stake and involvement in the coaching search adds both credibility and accountability, potentially attracting high-quality candidates who want to learn from one of football’s greatest minds.
The first overall draft pick provides significant leverage, as every coaching candidate knows they’ll have the opportunity to select and develop their own franchise quarterback rather than inheriting someone else’s choice.
John Spytek’s emphasis on patience and long-term building represents a philosophical departure from the Raiders’ historical pattern of chasing quick fixes and making impulsive decisions.
Sources
FOX5 Vegas Raiders Coaching Search
News3 Las Vegas Coaching Tracker
Silver and Black Pride Analysis
Las Vegas Review-Journal Latest Updates
Raiders Official Site
