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Odds Point to a Vikings Coach Leading the Raiders
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- Odds Point to a Vikings Coach Leading the Raiders
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll after one season, spending the last week identifying and interviewing replacement candidates. And according to the betting market, a Minnesota Vikings coach, past or present, will likely earn the gig, with Brian Flores and Klint Kubiak leading the way.
This is the time of year when betting markets and interview leaks overlap, and Vegas' interview board suggests a couple of Minnesota connections.
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Tom Brady , as an owner, is involved in the search, so the masses expect a top-notch result.
Why Flores and Kubiak Are Showing Up in Raiders Odds
Flores and Kubiak lead the way, per sportsbooks, to grab the Raiders' vacant HC post.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell introduces defensive coordinator Brian Flores at TCO Performance Center, Feb 15, 2023, in Minnesota. The announcement marked Flores' arrival after stops with New England, Miami, and Pittsburgh, setting the tone for a defensive overhaul as Minnesota reshaped its coaching staff and clarified leadership roles ahead of the offseason program. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
The Odds for LV HC
It's lining up for Flores or Kubiak to get the call in Las Vegas, according to The Draft Network's Jaime Eisner.
He tweeted Sunday :
Here are the top 3 favorites for each NFL head coach opening:
— ARI: Vance Joseph (+225); Mike McCarthy (+500); Klint Kubiak (+600)
— ATL: Kevin Stefanski (+200); Klint Kubiak (+225); Kliff Kingsbury (+800)
— BAL: Jesse Minter (+125); Brian Flores (+350); Klint Kubiak (+425)
— CLE: Jim Schwartz (+250); Mike McDaniel (+500); Klint Kubiak (+600)
— LV: Brian Flores (+150); Klint Kubiak (+400); John Harbaugh (+700)
— MIA: Jeff Hafley (+150); John Harbaugh (+200); Vance Joseph (+500)
— NYG: John Harbaugh (-175); Kevin Stefanski (+200); Mike McCarthy (+750)
— TEN: Matt Nagy (+110); Kevin Stefanski (+550); Mike McDaniel (+700)
It's also worth noting that Kubiak's name is all over that list, implying an intense likelihood that he will land the top job somewhere . Flores, meanwhile, checked in second for the Ravens' open position.
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The Case for Flores
Flores heading to Vegas makes sense on two fronts.
Foremost, his resume should do the talking. He took over a bend-and-mostly-break defense created by ex-Vikings defensive boss Ed Donatell in 2022. Within a year, Flores forced Minnesota into the Top 12 of most credible defensive metrics, and by 2024, the Vikings boasted the NFL's second-best defense per EPA/Play .
How did Flores follow that act in 2025? Well, the Vikings ranked third in defensive EPA/Play this season, despite their general manager hitting on very few defensive draft picks in the last four years. In fact, Dallas Turner and Levi Drake Rodriguez might be the only two to be mentioned in a complimentary tone.
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In short, Flores has made the Vikings' defense a monster.
Second, Brady partly owns the Raiders. Brady and Flores worked together in the same New England building for a decade. When Brady talks, others listen, even the tough-as-nails Flores, who stated in 2024 that he'd only take a head coaching job that offers the "right opportunity."
When Las Vegas hires a head coach, it will be its sixth since the start of 2021. Flores will have to loosen his criteria, and perhaps Brady can help.
The Case for Kubiak
Seattle sits as the NFC's top seed, idle this weekend while the Wildcard Round sorted itself out, and is in line to take on the San Francisco 49ers this weekend. If Sam Darnold holds form, the runway to the Super Bowl is there for Seattle.
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That kind of season always pushes assistants into the spotlight. Kubiak is on that path. It's the same exposure cycle that carried Kevin O'Connell to Minnesota after the Rams' 2021 title run.
Seattle's defense has driven the surge, while Kubiak's offenses have historically hovered closer to average than dominant.
Here are Kubiak's offensive per EPA/Play as the Vikings' offensive OC in 2021, the same job with the 2024 New Orleans Saints , and this year's Seattle squad:
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2021: 17th
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2024: 25th
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2025: 14th
Kubiak's name still carries weight, though. Gary Kubiak's legacy remains intact around the league, and that association matters in NFL hiring circles.
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The Raider Rumble 's Willy Razo opined on Kubiak last week, "Kubiak's age is also part of the appeal. The NFL has leaned toward younger offensive coaches who are willing to evolve, communicate clearly, and build systems around player strengths rather than a fixed playbook."
"That does not guarantee success, but it does increase the odds of alignment between roster building and weekly play-calling. The Raiders do not need a headline hire. They need a coherent one. If Spytek and Brady want to pair the No. 1 pick with an offensive infrastructure that can support a long-term build, Kubiak is a logical candidate."
The Raiders are widely expected to draft Indiana's Fernando Mendoza in two and a half months.
Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak works through pregame warmups at Caesars Superdome, Aug 25, 2024, in New Orleans. The scene captured Kubiak preparing the offense during the preseason, as staff evaluated timing, communication, and sequencing while installation continued ahead of roster decisions and final adjustments before the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Razo continued, "He offers a modern structure, a quarterback-friendly approach, and a system that can grow with a young roster. For the Raiders, the next hire is not just about 2026."
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"It is about finally committing to an offensive identity that can survive adversity, turnover, and the weekly pressure of the AFC West . If that is the standard, Kubiak deserves serious consideration."
No Interview Yet for Flores?
While it's fair for Flores to be the frontrunner for the Raiders' job, it's merely hypothetical at the time of the article's publication.
Las Vegas has not formally requested an interview with Flores, leaving Vikings fans to wonder, "If he's such a huge frontrunner, why hasn't he interviewed?" A fair question
Raiders helmet rests along the sideline during pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium, Oct 20, 2024, in Inglewood. The image framed the setting ahead of Las Vegas' matchup with the Rams, capturing the calm before kickoff as staff and players completed final checks under stadium lights, with cameras rolling and routines settling into place nearby. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
As always, sportsbooks must know something that the general public does not, and a Flores interview in Las Vegas should be around the bend.
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Kubiak has never served as a head coach, while Flores has a 24-25 (.490) career record from his time in Miami .
