Key Highlights
- Raiders complete interviews with key coaching candidates including Joe Brady and Klay Kubiak.
- Details on the background of Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase, Mike LaFleur, Jeff Hafley, Jesse Minter, and Ejiro Evero.
- Timeline of Raiders’ head coach search process so far.
Raiders Complete Interviews with Key Coaching Candidates for 2026 Season
The Las Vegas Raiders have continued their pursuit of a new head coach by completing interviews with several high-profile candidates in recent days. The team’s search, which began on January 15, has seen them interview a total of 13 candidates so far.
Interviews Completed
The Raiders conducted interviews with two key offensive coordinators on January 18: Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who is in his second full season leading the Buffalo offense, and 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, currently in his fifth year with San Francisco.
Background of Interviewed Candidates
Chris Shula, current Rams defensive coordinator, was interviewed on January 16. With nine seasons under his belt at the Rams, Shula has played a crucial role in the team’s defense. In 2025, the Rams’ defense finished 10th in scoring defense and contributed to a strong 12-5 season.
Nate Scheelhaase, Rams pass game coordinator, was also interviewed on January 16.
Scheelhaase has been with the Rams for two seasons after serving as an offensive assistant/pass game specialist. His work in 2024 helped quarterback Matthew Stafford achieve his career bests.
Mike LaFleur, who served as head coach of the New York Jets before joining the Rams, was interviewed on January 16. Under LaFleur’s guidance, the 2025 Rams led the NFL in scoring and total offense, making a significant impact on both sides of the ball.
Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator who recently completed his first season with the team after four years as head coach at Boston College, was interviewed on January 15.
In just one year in the NFL, Hafley helped transform the Packers’ defense into a top-five unit.
Jesse Minter and Ejiro Evero, both defensive coordinators, were also interviewed on January 14. Minter joined the Chargers from the University of Michigan in 2024, while Evero has been the Panthers’ defensive coordinator for three seasons.
Previous Interviews Recap
The Raiders completed interviews with a range of experienced coaches earlier in their search:
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who was recently hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons on January 17.
- Matt Nagy, veteran offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, who previously served as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
- Davis Webb, current offensive pass game coordinator of the Denver Broncos, who transitioned from a quarterback to coaching roles in 2023 and 2024.
- Vance Joseph, former head coach of the Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
- Klint Kubiak, current Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator who previously held similar roles with the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, and Minnesota Vikings.
The Raiders’ search is expected to continue as they aim to find the right candidate to lead their team into the 2026 season. Fans will be watching closely to see which of these experienced coaches will be chosen for this pivotal role.