Raiders Finalize Coaching Staff Under Klint Kubiak
The Raiders announced their finalized coaching staff today, the first under new head coach Klint Kubiak. Several of the new hires in Las Vegas have already been covered in previous posts, but today’s announcement did provide some new information. 
Before we get into what was in the coaching staff announcement, let’s briefly touch on what wasn’t. Many in the media were shocked to see that the Raiders had not employed the services of a quarterbacks coach on Kubiak’s first staff, especially since the consensus points to Vegas taking Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the rookie may need a coach.
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, the team did look at candidates for the QB coach position but opted not to force a hire that didn’t feel right. Bonsignore suggested that the team would wait and revisit the position again next offseason, but Kubiak, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, and assistant head coach Mike McCoy have all held the title of quarterbacks coach in the past, so they may be well set up to work without an official one.
Moving on to the other new information for the offensive staff, Luke Steckel has once again been retained as the team’s tight ends coach for the 2026 season. A long-time Titans assistant from 2013-22, Steckel arrived in Las Vegas in 2024 as part of Antonio Pierce‘s staff and was retained on the staff under new head coach Pete Carroll last year. He’ll now coach tight ends for the Raiders under his third head coach.
For new hires on offense, Ben Wilkerson has been named assistant offensive line coach, Pete Collins and Conner McQueen have been named offensive quality control, and Tim Zetts has been named an offensive assistant. Wilkerson has made the rounds as an NFL assistant offensive line coach. After stints with the Bears, both New York teams, and the Browns, Wilkerson makes it out to Las Vegas. McQueen is making his NFL coaching debut after eight years of experience at the collegiate level. Zetts is an interesting name here. An offensive assistant on Pierce’s staff two years ago, Zetts returns on Kubiak’s staff in the same role after not working with the team last year.
On the defensive side of the ball, there were two updates to major positions. First, Matt Robinson‘s new role in Las Vegas, originally reported to be secondary coach, was clarified in the announcement. He will more specifically be the safeties coach. The other update saw assistant defensive line coach Kenyon Jackson retained in the same role. Jackson filled the position for Las Vegas last year, coming over from a similar role he had held in Houston.
The team’s defense is employing all new hires at the quality control and assistant level. Drew Gaither, Cody Grimm, and Ketner Kupp were all named defensive quality control, and Steve Ferentz was hired as a defensive assistant. Grimm is maybe the most notable name there. He was a safeties coach for the Jaguars in 2023 but hasn’t appeared on an NFL staff since. Ferentz also held a prior job as the Dolphins assistant linebackers coach back in 2022.
Outside of that, Matt Capurro has been retained as the team’s senior vice president of coaching operations. Capurro found his way to Vegas last year, following Carroll from Seattle. Capurro had been on staff with Carroll on the Seahawks for 15 years, but he’ll remain on staff for his first new head coach since then. Lastly, Tim McConnell was hired as the team’s new assistant special teams coach. McConnell makes his way to the NFL after working specials teams positions at the collegiate level at schools like North Texas and South Carolina.
This will be the crew, along with the formerly touched on new hires and promotions, to build up the new Raiders program. The Kubiak-era’s first big tests will come when free agency and the draft arrive, and he now has the staff of coaches with whom he will face those tests.
Raiders Announce Finalized 2024 Coaching Staff
When the season ended, the Raiders stayed true to the wishes of many players, hiring interim head coach Antonio Pierce into the permanent role for the 2024 NFL season. Today, Las Vegas officially announced the entirety of the new staff under Pierce, cluing us into some developments that we hadn’t yet reported on. We were aware of the hires of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg, senior offensive assistant Joe Philbin, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, assistant quarterbacks coach Fred Walker, and running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams on offense as well as the hiring of assistant head coach Marvin Lewis. Here’s a rundown of the remaining staff updates. 
On the offensive side of the ball, with quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive line covered, Getsy made the call to retain Edgar Bennett as wide receivers coach. Bennett has an extensive history with star wideout Davante Adams as the two have spent time together in both Green Bay and Vegas. Last year’s tight ends coach Jerry Schuplinski is now a senior offensive assistant with the Rams, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, so former Bears assistant offensive line coach Luke Steckel has been hired in his place. Steckel previously coached tight ends in Tennessee in 2021 and 2022, mentoring Chigoziem Okonkwo to an impressive rookie season. Steckel will be assisted by newly promoted assistant tight ends coach Mitch Singler, who served the past two years as offensive quality control for the Raiders.
Additionally, pass game coordinator Scott Turner has officially been retained after being considered a candidate for the Patriots offensive coordinator position, and former Bears assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts has been added to the staff with the title of assistant offense. Lastly on offense, we were aware that the new head coach’s son, De’Andre Pierce, would be joining the staff, but whereas his initial position was reportedly going to be offensive quality control coach, we now know that he will be an offensive assistant.
On the defensive side of the ball, we had some idea of the fate of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who had been permitted to take interviews for head coaching jobs but was being blocked from lateral moves, and those ideas are now confirmed as he’ll be retained as coordinator. The team’s announcement shows that defensive line coach Rob Leonard and senior defensive assistant Rob Ryan have been retained, as well. Additionally, Matt Feeney, who has spent the past two seasons as a defensive quality control coach, has been promoted to assistant defensive backs coach.
Also on defense, we knew of the hiring of Mike Caldwell as linebackers coach, but today’s announcement informed us that he’ll hold the additional title of run game coordinator, as well. We also saw initial reports that Ricky Manning Jr. was being brought on as defensive backs coach, but he is officially listed now as cornerbacks coach with former Steelers assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander being hired to coach safeties. Alexander assisted with a secondary in Pittsburgh that included Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Damontae Kazee, and Keanu Neal. Together, the two will replace Chris Ash, who was not retained as defensive backs coach, and Jason Simmons, who was recently hired as defensive pass-game coordinator in Washington. Also, we had reported the addition of former Jets defensive line coach Andre Carter to the staff, and we now know his new title in Las Vegas to be pass rush specialist.
Lastly on defense, we were informed of the hiring of Marcus Lewis as assistant linebackers coach and Josh Phillips as assistant defense. Lewis has recent experience as a defensive analyst at Arizona State and NFL experience after spending five years with the Bengals as an assistant working with the defensive line and linebackers. Phillips most recently served as head coach at Sarasota HS (FL), leading the team to a 1-9 record in his only season at the helm.
On special teams, we officially received word that both special teams coordinator Tom McMahon and assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II would both be retained under Pierce. It appears that former NFL wideout Danny Amendola, who had been brought on as a coaching assistant to work specifically with returners, has not been retained, and Kade Rannings has been added to the staff as a second assistant special teams coach.
Lastly, the team announced that former director of football research and strategy Matt Sheldon will be on the sideline in the role of game management coach. Also, Jon Gruden‘s son, Deuce Gruden, is a surprising holdover as an assistant strength and conditioning coach after being retained by McDaniel’s staff following his father’s resignation in 2021.
There you have it. Though, much will remain the same with Pierce taking over the full-time role as head coach, plenty of changes were necessary. After another short head coaching stint by Josh McDaniels, Pierce seemed to rejuvenate a deflated squad to close the season. With a new staff of his own and a full offseason to work together, it will be interesting to see what Pierce will be able to accomplish in Las Vegas in 2024.
Coaching Notes: Wilks, Bills, Dolphins, Bears, Broncos
Steve Wilks is back with the Panthers. The team announced that they’ve hired the veteran coach as their new defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach.
Wilks played for the Carolina franchise during his stint in the AFL, and his first coaching gig was at a nearby college. Of course, Wilks also worked for the Panthers, starting as a defensive backs coach before working his way up to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
The 52-year-old had a brief stint as the Cardinals head coach in 2018 before moving on to Cleveland as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2019. Now, he’s back in Carolina, replacing now-Raiders defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons.
More coaching notes from around the NFL…
- The Bills have a new special teams coordinator, as the team announced the promotion of Matthew Smiley. The veteran coach has spent the past five years in Buffalo, serving as assistant ST coach. Per the team’s announcement, Smiley played a significant role in the development of kicker Tyler Bass and returner Andre Roberts. Smiley will replace Heath Farwell, who will be joining the Jaguars coaching staff.
- Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will be retaining special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). Crossman has been with the Dolphins since 2019, and he earned a promotion to assistant head coach in 2021. The 55-year-old previously served as the ST coordinator with the Bills, Lions, and Panthers.
- Matt Eberflus continues to add to his coaching staff. The Bears announced that they’ve hired Tim Zetts as their assistant tight ends coach and Omar Young as an offensive quality control coach. The two coaches both have connections to the Packers franchise. Meanwhile, Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com writes that the Bears also hired David Walker as their new running backs coach. The 52-year-old last coached in 2018.
- Ben Steele will be the Broncos new assistant offensive line coach, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). Chris Kuper, who previously served in the role, has been let go. Steele will report to Butch Barry, who is the full-time OL coach.