The Las Vegas Raiders’ head-coaching search is moving fast.
Too fast for some.
On Tuesday, former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll completed a second interview with the Raiders — a step that typically signals serious interest, if not momentum. Hours later, that momentum vanished.
Daboll signed on as the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator.
The timing left little room for interpretation.
In league circles, the message was clear: Daboll didn’t walk away from Las Vegas. He was told the door wasn’t opening.
That development marks yet another pivot point in a coaching search that has quietly narrowed faster than expected. Daboll was viewed as a stabilizing option — a proven offensive mind with head-coaching experience and playoff success on his résumé. Instead, he’s off the board, and the Raiders are recalibrating in real time.
And he’s not the only one.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, another candidate who had completed a second interview with Las Vegas earlier this week, was promoted to head coach by the Bills on Tuesday. With one move, another potential path closed.
Two interviews. Two exits. One day.
Suddenly, the Raiders’ list looks much shorter.
As of Tuesday night, the names most closely linked to the job are Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator Davis Webb and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Both are younger candidates. Both come with upside. And both now carry leverage.
That leverage matters.
In Denver, the Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday afternoon — a move widely interpreted as an attempt to clear space and keep Webb in-house. At just 31 years old, Webb represents the kind of modern offensive thinker teams want to grow with. Denver may not be willing to let that asset walk without a fight.
Meanwhile, Kubiak’s situation appears more complicated.
Multiple reports suggest he has not yet agreed to a second interview with the Raiders. Other whispers indicate he may prefer to remain in Seattle for the 2026 season, particularly after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. Stability, success, and upward momentum can be hard to leave — especially for a coach whose stock is already rising.
The Raiders have also been linked to Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who has interviewed with the team in recent days. But even that connection feels more exploratory than definitive as the search continues behind closed doors.
The Athletic reported Tuesday afternoon that Las Vegas remains in the interview phase, but the broader league context is tightening. With Buffalo filling its vacancy, only three of the ten head-coaching openings remain unfilled: the Raiders, the Cleveland Browns, and the Arizona Cardinals.
That shrinking landscape changes the dynamic.
For Las Vegas, this isn’t about panic — yet. It’s about discipline, patience, and conviction. But every name that exits the board raises the stakes. The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft and are positioned to select a franchise quarterback. The next head coach won’t just be installing a system — he’ll be shaping an era.
That decision can’t be rushed.
Still, optics matter. And around the league, people are watching closely to see whether the Raiders are narrowing in on their guy — or being forced to adjust as others make moves first.
Brian Daboll’s sudden departure wasn’t loud.
But it was telling.
And as the search continues, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the margin for error is shrinking, and the Raiders know it.
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