The Las Vegas Raiders are in the early stages of assembling their coaching staff under head coach Klint Kubiak, who could not be officially hired until after the Super Bowl. Kubiak’s first move was to hire former Chargers head coach Mike McCoy as assistant head coach, signaling a target toward strong leadership across the staff.
A key question for the staff is who’ll handle play-calling on offense. With Kubiak taking on play-calling duties, the Raiders are eyeing an offensive coordinator who may not have previously held that role. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team showed interest in Patriots quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, though Grant recently declined an interview and intends to stay with New England.
Grant’s success with Drake Maye in 2025 was noted, as he helped elevate a rookie to near-MVP consideration. However, at 30 years old, Grant remains a relatively young coaching candidate with room to grow before stepping into an OC role.
On the defensive side, the Raiders are interviewing Rams assistant head coach and pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant for the defensive coordinator position, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Pleasant has NFL coaching experience since 2013, including the Rams’ staff the past three seasons, but has not previously served as a defensive coordinator. He represents a potential up-and-coming option for a defense-focused complement to Kubiak’s offense.
The Raiders’ patience with Kubiak’s hire has drawn praise. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr suggested the hire could be a strong fit for a franchise that previously took a different, less optimal path. Orr emphasized that Kubiak’s on-field tenacity contrasts with perceptions of timidity, underscoring why this could be a smart, measured choice for Las Vegas.
