Feb. 8, 2026, 5:50 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set to meet in Super Bowl LX from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday evening.
Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is expected to be hired as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ next head coach, potentially creating an OC opening with the defending Super Bowl champion.
ESPN shared some of the intel its gathered from Super Bowl week, linking a recent Detroit Lions hire to the expected opening in Seattle. After interviewing him during its offensive coordinator search, the Lions did hire former Giants interim head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to a high-ranking offensive staff role.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Kafka could be a name to watch with the Seahawks.
Some people I’ve talked to here in San Francisco think Seattle coach Mike Macdonald will want to keep a similar, Kubiak-style system in place. One back-pocket item to store away: Seattle was very impressed with Mike Kafka during head coach interviews two years ago. He’s now a senior assistant in Detroit and could be a name to watch. – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
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If Kubiak doesn’t hire him as his offensive coordinator in Las Vegas, Seahawks offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz would figure to be on the short list in Seattle as Kubiak’s successor as well.
Kafka was considered a terrific hire by Dan Campbell and the Lions. Keeping Kafka’s expertise alongside new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is the best outcome for Detroit.
This could morph into a situation to monitor with Kafka and Seattle.
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