The Las Vegas Raiders’ coaching search is moving quickly — and not always in ways that inspire confidence.
On Tuesday, Brian Daboll appeared to be a serious contender. The former New York Giants head coach had just completed a second interview with the Raiders, a step that typically signals momentum. Hours later, the picture changed completely.
Daboll accepted the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator job, abruptly removing himself from the race.
The timing raised eyebrows around the league.
While nothing has been confirmed publicly, the move strongly suggests Daboll was informed he would not be the Raiders’ choice. In modern NFL hiring cycles, second interviews rarely end with candidates immediately pivoting elsewhere unless clarity has already been delivered behind the scenes.
And Daboll wasn’t the only name to disappear.
Earlier the same day, another Raiders finalist came off the board when the Buffalo Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach. Brady had completed his own second interview with Las Vegas just one day prior. Within 24 hours, he was gone.
Two serious candidates. Two quick exits.
Suddenly, the Raiders’ once-wide coaching pool looks significantly narrower.
According to league reporting, the current frontrunners are Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator Davis Webb and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Both are young, offensive-minded coaches — and both come with complications.
In Denver, the situation is shifting rapidly. The Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday afternoon, a move widely interpreted as a strategic attempt to keep Webb in-house.
At just 31 years old, Webb is considered one of the league’s rising coaching minds, and Denver may be signaling a willingness to restructure its staff to prevent losing him.
Seattle presents a different challenge.
There has been media speculation that Kubiak has not yet agreed to a second interview with the Raiders. Other reports suggest he may prefer to remain with the Seahawks for the 2026 season, especially after their deep playoff run and Super Bowl appearance. If true, that hesitation adds another layer of uncertainty to the Raiders’ timeline.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have also been linked to Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who has interviewed with the team. While LaFleur brings experience and pedigree, his candidacy has remained quieter — and notably less advanced than some of the names already eliminated.
The Athletic reported Tuesday afternoon that Las Vegas is still actively interviewing candidates, but the context has changed. With Buffalo filling its vacancy, only three head coaching openings remain across the NFL: the Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals.
That scarcity cuts both ways.
On one hand, it reduces competition. On the other, it limits options — and increases pressure to get the decision right.
For the Raiders, the stakes are enormous. They hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and are expected to select a franchise quarterback. The head coach they choose won’t just run a team — he’ll shape a rebuild, define a culture, and likely determine whether that quarterback succeeds or stalls.
Which makes the recent exits feel louder than they look.
From the outside, this coaching search now feels less like a methodical process and more like a narrowing funnel. Candidates are choosing certainty elsewhere. Teams are making aggressive internal moves to protect their own. And Las Vegas is left navigating a shrinking field under increasing scrutiny.
There’s no indication the Raiders are panicking. But there is a growing sense that time — and leverage — may no longer be fully on their side.
In the coming days, the search will reach its final phase. Whether the Raiders emerge with a bold hire or a safe one remains to be seen.
What’s clear is this: the door closed on Brian Daboll quickly.
And in Las Vegas, every closed door makes the remaining ones matter that much more.
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