Best replacements for Pete Carroll in 2026

By: Jake Rajala

Pete Carroll is making Al Davis roll over in his grave. Carroll has the Raiders sitting at 2-10. Hence, I believe they will replace him in 2026. With that said, I’m going to lay out the best replacements for Caroll.

Klint Kubiak

Klint Kubiak is one of the most creative offensive coordinators right now. He has the Hawks sitting with the third highest scoring offense right now. The Hawks don’t exactly have an All-Pro QB, yet they are putting up fireworks each week. Kubiak is also the opposite age of Carroll, as he’s 38 years old.

📜 Play Caller Rankings

The gap from #1 to #2 is almost identical to the gap from #2 to #18. Klint Kubiak might be the best free agent play caller addition this offseason.

Meanwhile, Mike Macdonald’s predecessor, Pete Carroll, could be out after only one year in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/53CTftRYOW

— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) December 3, 2025

Joe Brady

Joe Brady is largely responsible for Josh Allen winning MVP in 2024. Allen is ninth in passing yards right now and seventh in passing touchdowns. James Cook is the real star of the show. Cook is second in rushing yards, and he also has eight rushing touchdowns. He could be perfect for Ashton Jeanty, who has been up and down.

Raider Nation, hear me out on this ABSOLUTE HEATER 🔥

Hire Bills OC Joe Brady as our next HC

Draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.

Then double-dip and grab his WR Elijah Sarratt later.

Instant chemistry!

Who’s riding with this vision?! #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/nydIWVxYQL

— Eric Newton (@E5Nasty) December 1, 2025

Brian Flores

Brian Flores didn’t deserve to be fired from the Miami Dolphins, to say the least. Brian Flores knows how to call a quality defense. Max Crosby might just have a Myles Garrett type season with Flores calling the shots. Flores is arguably the best defensive coordinator, right up there with Vic Fangio, Vance Joseph, and Robert Saleh. Flores is doing his best with a Vikings defense that doesn’t have a lot of talent on it.

Matt Nagy

Matt Nagy had success in Chi-town, but Mitchell Trubisky happened. I still believe Nagy is a QB guru. He’s still working wonders with Patrick Mahomes, despite him not having a lot of weapons for him. I’d like to see Nagy have a 2026 rookie QB with Brock Bowers and Jeanty.

Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick may be stubborn and doesn’t plan on coaching in the NFL, but I’m sure he’s bound to return at some point. BB could have total control of the Raiders, just as Jon Gruden once had. BB can finally have a young, stud QB better than Mac Jones. BB can also build up the Raiders defense around Maxx Crosby the right way.

Sean Payton spoke here on his relationship with Bill Belichick and said he misses him in the NFL.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if — and I would be somewhat hopeful that he ends up back in the league.” pic.twitter.com/WxMynYRpEB

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) December 3, 2025

The Raiders could make a seismic change with the right HC-QB combo in 2026. They have elite weapons and defenders already. I’m sold that the current Raiders HC-QB combo won’t be around in the Sin City after this season.