Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has officially taken over as the new Las Vegas Raiders' head coach. Kubiak helped the Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. The Raiders will hope for similar success.
The Raiders and Kubiak are beginning their partnership in ideal fashion. They'll select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kubiak has been hired to maximize Mendoza's development.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is now tasked with hiring Kubiak's replacement. It'll be Macdonald's third offensive coordinator in as many seasons in charge of the Seahawks. We've identified three potential options.
Justin Outten, Seahawks run game specialist
The early expectation is that the Seahawks will promote from within. Macdonald's top candidate should be Justin Outten, his current run game specialist and assistant offensive line coach. Outten has the required experience and is also inherently familiar with the offense Kubiak ran. Not to mention how he helped transform Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks’ run game.
Outten got his coaching start on the legendary 2016 Atlanta Falcons staff that featured Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel, and Mike LaFleur. He's well-versed in the zone-based scheme that coaching tree has made popular again. Outten followed LaFleur to Green Bay and eventually coordinated his own offense in Denver. With the Seahawks wanting to keep Kubiak's offense largely in place, he's the most logical choice.
Jake Peetz, Seahawks passing game coordinator
The other top in-house candidate should be passing game coordinator Jake Peetz. Peetz joined Macdonald's staff in 2024, one year before Kubiak's arrival. He's helped oversee the offensive changes and doesn't appear to be a candidate to follow Kubiak to Vegas.
Peetz got his first NFL job on that 2014 Washington Commanders team that Sean McVay coordinated. Peetz later became LSU's offensive coordinator in 2021, reunited with McVay in Los Angeles in 2022, and was promoted to the Rams' passing game specialist in 2023. He's the potential succession plan for Kubiak's departure.
Brian Callahan, former Titans head coach
Macdonald will have to interview various outside candidates to comply with NFL rules. Former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan could emerge as an external option. Callahan has interviewed for a few OC vacancies this year, including with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons.
There are coaching and schematic connections between Callahan and the Seahawks' staff. For example, he retained Outten on his 2024 Titans staff after initially inheriting him from Mike Vrabel. He also worked with a McVay disciple with the Cincinnati Bengals in Zac Taylor, which gives him ties to Peetz and the zone-based system Kubiak calls.
