The Las Vegas Raiders, under new Head Coach Klint Kubiak, are actively seeking to fill key coaching positions. This effort involves requesting interviews with several members of the Seattle Seahawks' staff, including those instrumental in the Seahawks' recent Super Bowl victory. The Seahawks, in turn, appear to be strategically blocking some of these requests, particularly for candidates being considered for their own vacant offensive coordinator role. This situation highlights the competitive nature of NFL coaching staff recruitment following a championship season and a significant head coaching change.
Coaching Carousel: Raiders Target Seahawks Talent
Following Klint Kubiak's departure from the Seattle Seahawks to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, a common practice in the NFL has emerged: the new head coach looking to bring staff members from his previous team. Reports indicate the Raiders have initiated interviews and are seeking permission to speak with several Seahawks coaches.
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Offensive Coordinator Search: The Raiders have expressed interest in Seahawks assistant Frisman Jackson, who currently serves as the wide receivers coach. Jackson has extensive experience as an NFL wide receivers coach, having held the position with multiple teams since 2017. He is slated to interview for the offensive coordinator position under Kubiak in Las Vegas. This interview process for the Raiders' OC role is reportedly set to occur after Jackson interviews for the Seahawks' own offensive coordinator vacancy.
Defensive Coordinator Interest: Several individuals connected to the Seahawks' coaching staff are also being considered for the Raiders' defensive coordinator position.
Jeff Howard, an assistant with the Seahawks, is slated for an interview for the defensive coordinator role.
Karl Scott, the Seahawks' defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, has also been interviewed by the Raiders for their defensive coordinator job. Scott previously interviewed for the same role with the Commanders and with the Raiders in 2024.
Aubrey Pleasant, an assistant coach with the Rams, has also interviewed with the Raiders for their defensive coordinator position. Pleasant has prior interactions with Kubiak from their time as NFC West rivals.
Internal Seahawks Candidates: The Seahawks are also evaluating their own internal staff for the offensive coordinator position. Among the candidates is Justin Outten, the run-game specialist and assistant offensive line coach.
Seahawks' Defensive Prowess and Coaching Mobility
The Seattle Seahawks have demonstrated strong defensive performance in recent seasons, which may contribute to the interest from other teams in their coaching staff. The team ranked first in scoring defense and tenth in passing defense during the 2025 season, securing 18 interceptions. This success is noteworthy, as Karl Scott has been with the Seahawks for the past four seasons, serving as their defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
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Blocking Interview Requests: The Seahawks have reportedly blocked the Raiders' request to interview Justin Outten. This decision appears to be linked to Outten being considered an internal candidate for Seattle's offensive coordinator vacancy. While the Seahawks could not prevent Kubiak's move, they are actively trying to retain some of his former assistants.
Retained Staff: Reports suggest that Karl Scott is returning to Mike Macdonald's staff with the Seahawks, despite interviewing for the Cardinals' defensive coordinator position. This indicates a strategic effort by the Seahawks to maintain continuity within their coaching unit.
Coaching Staff Transitions and Implications
The movement of coaches between teams is a dynamic aspect of the NFL, particularly after significant coaching changes. Klint Kubiak's appointment as head coach of the Raiders signals a period of significant staffing adjustments for both Las Vegas and Seattle.
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Kubiak's Network: Kubiak is leveraging his established network to build his coaching staff in Las Vegas. His focus on former Seahawks assistants is a clear indication of his trust in their abilities.
Seahawks' Internal Evaluation: The Seahawks are simultaneously engaged in filling their own offensive coordinator role, interviewing internal candidates like Justin Outten. The outcome of this search will influence their willingness to allow other assistants to depart.
Shifting Defensive Coordinator Landscape: The Raiders' pursuit of multiple candidates for their defensive coordinator role, including individuals from rival teams like the Rams, underscores the competitive market for experienced defensive minds.
The central dynamic involves the Las Vegas Raiders' attempts to recruit from the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks coaching staff, met by the Seahawks' strategic efforts to retain key personnel, particularly for their own offensive coordinator position.
Coaching Candidates and Roles
| Team | Position Sought | Seahawks Candidate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | Offensive Coordinator | Frisman Jackson | Interviewing for the Raiders' OC job; also interviewing for Seahawks' OC job. |
| Raiders | Defensive Coordinator | Jeff Howard | Scheduled for an interview. |
| Raiders | Defensive Coordinator | Karl Scott | Interviewed for the Raiders' DC job; also interviewed for Cardinals' DC job; returning to Seahawks' staff. |
| Raiders | Run-Game Coordinator | Justin Outten | Raiders requested interview; Seahawks blocked the request due to Outten being an internal candidate for OC job. |
| Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | Karl Scott | Interviewed for the Cardinals' DC job. |
Expert Commentary and Analysis
"It's not uncommon for coaches to move with their former head coaches, especially after a Super Bowl win. Teams want to retain that championship-level talent, and teams that lose those coaches want to keep their successful pieces. It’s a chess match for coaches right now."
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— Anonymous NFL Scout
"The Seahawks are in a tough spot. They lost their offensive coordinator, and now other teams are trying to pluck their offensive assistants. They need to decide if they want to promote from within or look elsewhere, and that decision impacts who they can let go."
— NFL Insider
Conclusion and Next Steps
The current situation indicates a period of significant coaching flux within the NFL, particularly affecting the Raiders and Seahawks. Klint Kubiak's transition to Las Vegas has initiated a recruitment drive targeting Seattle's coaching staff. The Seahawks, under pressure to fill their own offensive coordinator vacancy, are actively attempting to retain their assistants. The decisions made by both teams in the coming days regarding these coaching interviews and hirings will shape their competitive trajectories for the upcoming season. Further developments are expected as both organizations navigate these staffing challenges.
Sources Used:
NBC Sports:
"Seahawks to interview Connor Senger for offensive coordinator" - https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/seahawks-to-interview-connor-senger-for-offensive-coordinator
"Report: Cardinals interview Seahawks assistant Karl Scott for DC job" - https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-cardinals-interview-seahawks-assistant-karl-scott-for-dc-job
ClutchPoints:
"Seahawks block Raiders interview request after Super Bowl win" - https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-news-seattle-blocks-raiders-interview-request-after-super-bowl-win
Field Gulls:
"Raiders interview Seahawks assistant to be Klint Kubiak’s offensive coordinator" - https://www.fieldgulls.com/seahawks-news/162957/lv-raiders-interview-seattle-seahawks-assistant-to-be-kubiaks-oc-frisman-jackson
Raiders Wire (USA Today):
"Klint Kubiak set to interview Seahawks assistant for Raiders OC job" - https://raiderswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/raiders/2026/02/12/klint-kubiak-to-interview-seahawks-wr-coach-frisman-jackson-raiders-offensive-coordinator/88650238007/
Silver and Black Pride:
"Klint Kubiak starts filling out Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff with 1 hire, multiple interviews" - https://www.silverandblackpride.com/las-vegas-raiders-coaching-staff/122192/las-vegas-raiders-klint-kubiak-coaching-staff
Sports.mynorthwest.com:
"Report: Seattle Seahawks block Raiders' interview request" - https://sports.mynorthwest.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/report-seattle-seahawks-block-raiders-interview-request-assistant-outten/1839294
Pro Football Rumors:
"Raiders To Interview Aubrey Pleasant For Defensive Coordinator" - https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/02/raiders-to-interview-aubrey-pleasant-for-defensive-coordinator
Pro Football Rumors:
"Seahawks Blocked Raiders' Justin Outten Interview Request" - https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/02/seahawks-blocked-raiders-justin-outten-interview-request
Heavy.com:
"First Interview for Klint Kubiak's Raiders Coaching Staff Revealed: Report" - https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/klint-kubiak-oc-interview-frisman-jackson/
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