Raiders to hire Mike McCoy as assistant head coach on Klint Kubiak’s first staff

Feb. 12, 2026 ET — The Raiders are set to hire Mike McCoy as assistant head coach, adding a veteran presence to Klint Kubiak’s inaugural staff and bringing a familiar AFC West face back into the division.

Why McCoy for this role

For a first-year head coach, an assistant head coach with head-coaching and play-calling experience can steady the transition. McCoy checks those boxes after nearly three decades in the league as a head coach, coordinator and position coach. He offers game-management insight, situational planning expertise and a cross-phase view of roster building and in-game adjustments — all valuable for a staff taking shape late in the cycle. The move positions McCoy as a sounding board on fourth-down strategy, challenge usage and clock operations while Kubiak installs systems and culture.

Track record from San Diego to interim stop in Tennessee

McCoy, 53, was the Chargers’ head coach from 2013-2016 in their final San Diego years, posting a 27-37 regular-season mark and a 1-1 record in the postseason. After that run, he coordinated offenses in Denver and Arizona and later worked as quarterbacks coach in Jacksonville, further expanding his background in quarterback development and offensive structure. In early 2025, he joined Tennessee as a senior offensive assistant. When Brian Callahan was dismissed in October, McCoy took over as interim head coach for the final 11 games, with the Titans going 2-9 in that stretch. He interviewed for the permanent job after the season but did not advance to the finalist stage.

His brief interim tenure offered an up-close refresher on managing the full operation — from staff delegation to in-week installation and late-game decisions. Even with the record, those repetitions can be instructive, and they inform what he brings to Las Vegas in a supporting leadership role rather than as the primary play-caller.

Ties to Denver — and to the Kubiak family

While McCoy and Klint Kubiak have not previously worked together, their timelines crisscross in Denver. McCoy served on staff there from 2009-2012 and again in 2017. Klint spent time in Denver from 2016-2018 and later returned as passing game coordinator for the 2022 season. The Kubiak family’s Denver roots run deep, with Gary Kubiak’s long stints in the organization dating back to 1995. Those shared touchpoints — schemes, terminology, and organizational philosophies born out of Denver’s eras — should ease on-boarding and provide a common language as this new Raiders staff takes shape.

Kubiak’s arrival and the mandate in Las Vegas

Kubiak takes over after leading Seattle to a Super Bowl championship as offensive coordinator, stepping into a franchise reset. He replaces Pete Carroll, who had a one-season tenure in Las Vegas after his own championship run in Seattle. The staff-building timeline has been compressed by the coaching carousel’s late turn, but aligning leadership roles early is a priority. McCoy’s addition gives Kubiak flexibility to concentrate on offensive identity and player development while entrusting a seasoned counterpart with institutional setup and daily operational rhythm.

For a roster that will lean on efficient quarterback play and a balanced offensive approach, blending Kubiak’s creative design and sequencing with McCoy’s broad experience offers a complementary path. The assistant head coach role can also serve as a bridge across offense, defense and special teams during installation, helping synchronize practice structure and situational periods from spring through camp.

Coaching carousel context

McCoy’s pivot to Las Vegas continues a busy offseason for coaches who worked in Tennessee in 2025. Brian Callahan has taken on a quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator role with the Giants alongside defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree is headed to Buffalo after two seasons in Nashville. The relocation of that group underscores how quickly staffs are forming around the league and why the Raiders are moving now to secure veteran leadership for Kubiak’s debut season.

What’s next for the Raiders

Attention turns to the remaining coordinator and position-coach spots as Kubiak finalizes his structure. Expect emphasis on quarterback development, protection schemes and red-zone situational mastery on offense, with an eye toward complementary football that lightens the load on the defense. McCoy’s background across multiple systems should help tailor installs to personnel on hand and to any additions that arrive through free agency and the draft.

With this hire, Las Vegas invests in experienced support for its new head coach while maintaining flexibility in play-calling and scheme build-out. The move adds a steady hand to the sideline — and brings a familiar AFC West figure back into a division he knows well.