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Inside the Raiders’ Coaching Search — Beyond the Name Game
A scheme-based look at the coaches interviewing with the Raiders
Jesse Merrick
January 09, 2026
In partnership with
QUOTE OF THE DAY“I have a suspicion, and I think a lot of people do around it, that the Seahawks are really Mike McDonald's team — offensively and defensively. ‘This is what I want to see. This is what we're doing.’ I think it's the same thing because here in Dallas, again, another name that's being thrown around is Aden Durde, who was a defensive line coach here. Well, one of the best defensive line performances in the NFL is the Seahawks. But a lot of people are like, okay, well, how much is it McDonald? Because if people forget, the Ravens were abysmally bad up front under Wink. And then McDonald comes in. Now they're leading the NFL in sacks. And so I think like that's really one of the things that I think people need to see. So I think with Kubiak, it's also too, one of those of like, okay, how much of a clone are you? Are you really just running a playbook? And we know that the playbook right now is just better than everybody else's. Or is this, do you have some independent thought?” — Cody Alexander of Matchquarters.com, breaking down a key question the Raiders have to answer when they interview Klint Kubiak for their head coaching job today. |  |
In today’s newsletter, we dig into the Raiders’ coaching search, including a scheme-based look at the candidates who have interviewed so far. We also link a deep dive on fast-rising coaching candidate Davis Webb, examine why GM John Spytek is stepping into the spotlight as the organization commits to a full rebuild, and highlight one analyst’s contrarian take on Fernando Mendoza that’s worth reading — even if you don’t agree with it.
If you’re enjoying our newsletter, share it with a friend — the bigger our audience grows, the better the conversation gets.
BREAKING DOWN THE RAIDERS’ COACHING CANDIDATES
The Raiders’ coaching search is officially underway, and if you’re looking for more than surface-level “the Raiders should hire this guy” takes, our latest Silver & Black Sports Network podcast is worth your time. Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com for a true scheme-based breakdown of the candidates who have actually interviewed with the Raiders — what they run, what they believe in, and how each could realistically rebuild this team from the ground up. From Davis Webb and Vance Joseph to Matt Nagy and Klint Kubiak, Cody lays out what these coaches bring to the table on the field and why this hire could shape the Raiders’ future for years to come.
DAVIS WEBB DEEP DIVE
The Raiders interviewed 30-year-old Davis Webb on Wednesday, and he’s quickly emerging as one of the more intriguing names in this year’s coaching cycle. Webb has already lined up interviews with multiple teams around the league and could very well land one of the open jobs this offseason. If you want to learn more about his background and how he’s climbed the coaching ranks so quickly, check out the story above by Ryan Mink.
SPYTEK STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Speaking of deep dives, here’s another interesting read from Charles Robinson. He does a great job breaking down the current hierarchy inside the Raiders’ organization and why general manager John Spytek — not Mark Davis or Tom Brady — is emerging as the central figure in this reboot. As the Raiders commit fully to a teardown and rebuild, this piece explains why Spytek is stepping into the spotlight and what that means for how this franchise moves forward.
FLORES AND DABOLL: RIGHT COACHES, WRONG FIT?
They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire — and there’s been plenty of noise around the Raiders’ (read: Tom Brady’s) interest in potentially pairing Brian Flores and Brian Daboll in Vegas to turn this thing around. While both have strong résumés and proven track records, I’m not totally buying that either is the right fit for where the Raiders are right now. In the video linked above, I break down why I’m skeptical of both names being serious options and why the Raiders would be better served looking in a different direction as they try to build this the right way from the ground up.
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MISS ANYTHING?
Catch up on some of our recent stories:
 Records Broken, Questions Raised, and a Big Week Ahead— A record-breaking season, draft implications, and big decisions ahead. |  Draft Stakes, QB Questions, and a Season Finale That Matters— QB questions, draft math, and the real stakes vs. the Chiefs. |
UNPOPULAR OPINION
Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the “safest” quarterback in this class and many believe he has the potential to be a game-changer for the Raiders if they take him with the No. 1 overall pick. But don’t tell that to Daniel Kelly — he’s out with a take that Mendoza will fail with whichever team selects him in the first round. It’s an unpopular opinion, but worth a read if you want to play devil’s advocate and see a different perspective on the Heisman winner’s NFL potential.
MATT’S BEST BETS
We’ve rolled out something new for Raider Nation this season: Raiders Rounders. Each week, I team up with betting analyst Matt Perrault (The Bostonian vs The Book, The Daily Juice) to spotlight the best Raiders bets of the week and a few smart plays from around the NFL. Think of it as the perfect mix of insider football talk and betting insight, giving you a sharper look at how Vegas views the Silver & Black — from player props to game lines — and where the edges might be heading into Sunday.
The season may be over for the Raiders, but we’re still talkin’ ball with Matt, so the show goes on into the postseason.
Here’s Matt’s take on the first weekend of playoff action in the NFL:
Rams -10.5 vs. Panters: Matt says stay away from the spread and instead bet the total. He bet over 46.6 but when we taped our weekly segment it was up to 47.5 and he was still bullish on playing the over.
Packers -1.5 vs. Bears: Matt likes the Packers moneyline.
Bills -1.5 vs. Jaguars: Forget the points, Matt’s taking the Jags moneyline.
49ers +5.5 vs. Eagles: Matt said he’s not playing this one if Trent Williams isn’t playing. He did return to practice on Thursday so he’ll likely be out there, if that’s the case, Matt likes the 49ers to cover.
Chargers +3.5 vs. Patriots: Matt’s a Pats fan, and admitted you can call this one a homer play, but regardless he believes the Patriots win, and cover.
Texans -3 vs. Steelers: Mike Tomlin doesn’t lose on Monday Night Football, Matt says the Steelers win this one outright.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Raiders Rounders is all about sharing our perspective on the game. These aren’t betting recommendations — any wagers you place are 100% your responsibility. Bet responsibly.
FANSHOTZ FRIDAY
Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore/Fan Shotz
“FanShotz Friday”
By now, you have seen the phenomenal photos we’ve been using in many of our newsletters. They’re some of the best shots you’ll find of your favorite team, captured through the lens of our friend Arnie Bazemore of Fanshotz.com. Every Friday, we’ll feature Arnie’s favorite Raiders shot of the week that he captures at practice or on game day.
This week, we’re featuring a shot Arnie snagged of Ashton Jeanty breaking a Derrick Nnadi tackle in the finale — a fitting snapshot of a season where he pushed through tough conditions to break Josh Jacobs’ rookie scrimmage yard record (1,321).
Check out Arnie’s work at his site linked above and reach out if you’re interested in working with him. He’s a great guy and has been so supportive of me over the years when I was at NBC here in Vegas, and he’s come along for the ride with Silver & Black Sports Network, too.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Two quarterbacks the Raiders could be deciding between will go head-to-head tonight with a national title berth on the line. Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore face off for the second time this season in the College Football Playoff semifinal at 4:30 p.m. PT — and with the spotlight this bright, there’s still plenty left to learn.
Catch ya next time,
Silver & Black Sports Network is an independent media outlet. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by the Las Vegas Raiders or the NFL.
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