The Las Vegas Raiders finished the 2025 NFL season at 3–14, tied for the worst record in the entire league and the franchise’s lowest winning percentage (.176) since their Oakland days in 2006. It marked the fourth straight losing season, the 21st time in 23 seasons they missed the playoffs, and the third consecutive year the Raiders fired their head coach. What followed was a franchise in full-scale crisis mode: a dead cap anchor, a quarterback dilemma, and the most chaotic coaching carousel in recent NFL memory.
Mid-Season Meltdown
Jul 27, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, US; Las Vegas Raiders special teams coordinator Tom McMahon answers questions to the media during training camp at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
The downfall did not wait until January. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was dismissed on November 7, just weeks before offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was let go on November 23 as the team slumped to a 2–9 record. Head coach Pete Carroll, brought in to provide veteran stability after a 4–13 disaster in 2024, never recovered any momentum. The Raiders reached rock bottom despite fielding one of the league’s healthiest rosters—losing just 83 player-games to injury that season—making the collapse all the more inexplicable and alarming.
Carroll Fired, Cap Crisis Begins
Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll walks off the field after the Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
On January 5, 2026, one day after the season mercifully ended, the Raiders officially fired Pete Carroll, the third consecutive head coach dismissed in as many seasons. The franchise then faced an immediate financial reality: cutting quarterback Geno Smith, who posted a subpar 84.7 passer rating and was sacked 55 times behind an offensive line that allowed a league-high 64 sacks, would trigger a dead cap charge of $18.5 million. Smith’s two-year, $75 million extension—worth up to $85.5 million with incentives and including $58.5 million in fully guaranteed money—made clean separation expensive, though a trade could also clear his full cap hit entirely, should the Raiders find a willing partner.
First Overall Pick in Hand
Feb 10, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek at press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The one silver lining from the wreckage was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders clinched the top selection before the final week of the season, securing the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback. General Manager John Spytek acknowledged the gravity of the moment: “Are there two more important hires in an organization than a quarterback and a head coach? I think we probably all would agree that those two men usually steer the ship.” The entire rebuild hinges on getting both decisions right.
A Super Bowl Winner Takes Over
Feb 5, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak talks to media members at the San Jose Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Raiders’ head coaching search ended in cinematic fashion. Moments after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak stepped onto the field and publicly confirmed his next destination. “You know I’m going to Vegas. I’m fired up about it,” Kubiak declared, immediately energizing a worn-out fan base. The 38-year-old’s brash confidence stood in sharp contrast to years of franchise instability, and gave Raiders Nation its first genuine reason for optimism in years.
The Ten-Day Coaching Blitz
May 11, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak looks on during the rookie minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Once officially signed, Kubiak moved at a remarkable pace to build his inaugural staff. Within roughly ten days, he hired six coaches: assistant head coach Mike McCoy, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, safeties coach Matt Robinson, and defensive line coach Travis Smith. The speed and volume of appointments reflected Kubiak’s urgency to establish a winning culture inside a franchise synonymous with turnover. McCoy, who previously served as interim head coach of the Tennessee Titans late in the 2025 season, brings extensive play-calling experience to the role.
A Familiar Face Returns
Jun 12, 2018; Alameda, CA, USA: Oakland Raiders defensive quality control coach Travis Smith during minicamp at the Raiders headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Perhaps no hire in Kubiak’s initial wave carries more symbolic weight than Travis Smith, who returns to the Raiders organization after a four-year absence. Smith first joined Oakland in 2012 as a defensive assistant and spent ten seasons with the club, ascending to assistant defensive line coach before departing following the 2021 season. He most recently served as defensive run game coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, where he helped defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons earn First-Team All-Pro honors by recording 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in a single season.
The Man Who Built Mack
Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil MacK (52) is introduced for the game against the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Smith’s most celebrated chapter in Las Vegas was his central role in developing Khalil Mack into one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history. In 2016, Mack recorded sacks in eight consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in NFL history, and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. That elite development pedigree is precisely why Kubiak prioritized Smith’s addition. He now inherits a defensive line led by Maxx Crosby, another elite edge rusher whose long-term future in Las Vegas remains one of the most pressing questions facing the new front office this offseason.
Kubiak Vows to Earn Trust
Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak during the warmups before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Kubiak was deliberate in managing expectations with a fan base burned by years of failed promises. At his introductory press conference, he addressed the franchise’s turbulent history directly: “Yeah, there have been plenty of other coaches. But why not us? Why not this staff? Why not this group of players? It’s going to be a process; we’re gonna be about the work.” He added, “I think earning the trust of the building is a daily process. I’ve got to earn these guys’ trust—it’s not just going to happen with me sitting at a podium.”
Rebuilding From the Ground Up
Dec 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw in the first quarter against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Raiders enter the 2026 offseason with approximately $88.7 million in available salary cap space—among the highest figures in the league—giving Kubiak and Spytek genuine financial flexibility to accelerate a rebuild. The $18.5 million dead cap hit from releasing Geno Smith will reduce that cushion, but the $39.5 million in long-term savings in 2027 make the move financially sound. With the No. 1 overall draft pick secured, a new coaching staff installed in record time, and Travis Smith back to revitalize a talented defensive line, Las Vegas is wagering everything on a full cultural reset.
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Sources
“Raiders Fire Pete Carroll After One Season; GM John Spytek Remains.” ESPN, January 5, 2026.
“Raiders Clinch No. 1 Overall Pick in 2026 NFL Draft.” NFL.com, January 4, 2026.
“Raiders Officially Name Klint Kubiak as New Head Coach.” ESPN, February 9, 2026.
“Raiders Bring Back Former Long-Time Assistant Travis Smith as Defensive Line Coach.” Raiders Wire / USA Today Sports, February 16, 2026.
“Raiders Agree to Terms With Geno Smith on Two-Year Extension.” NFL.com, April 3, 2025.
