Jan. 25, 2026, 8:33 p.m. PT

Conference Championship Sunday is done. And the Super Bowl matchup is set. It will be the Patriots vs Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX. That was the infamous Super Bowl where Pete Carroll made the terrible decision to pass the ball at the goal line instead of handing it off to Marshawn Lynch and the ball was intercepted to give the Patriots a 28-24 victory.

Many Raiders fans have hated the Patriots with an unrelenting passion since the Tuck Rule snow job back in 2001. Yeah, 25 years is still too soon to be forgiving anything. Not to mention Josh McDaniels is back on the Patriots sideline, in case anyone needed a more recent reason to root against them. But being that it was either the Patriots or the Broncos probably had many Raiders fans feeling like there was no great option coming out of the AFC.

The NFC had a good option though — the Seahawks.

Not for any reason like rooting against Davante Adams going to the Super Bowl. That may be true for some while others wish him well.

No, the potential good news is with regard to the coaching search.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

You see, by most accounts the top candidate for the Raiders head coaching position is Seahwks OC Klint Kubiak.

NFL rules state that if a team is still in the playoffs at this point, the only teams that may interview a candidate are those who have already held an initial interview. And the only teams that have reportedly held initial interviews with him are the Raiders and Cardinals. Leaving the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns without a chance to meet with. Kubiak this week.

Between Arizona and Las Vegas, the Raiders would appear to be the more attractive job of the two. In part because they have the top pick in the upcoming draft.

This means that because the Seahawks won, the Raiders should get the first, best shot to hold a second interview and perhaps even agree to terms if all goes well. Though an official hiring wouldn’t take place until after the Super Bowl. Meanwhile the other teams could decide to go in another direction and hire a candidate who is available right now.

There are several other candidates from the losing Conference round teams who are available right now, including Rams OC Mike LaFleur, DC Chris Shula, and PGC Nate Scheelhaase along with Broncos QBC Davis Webb and DC Vance Joseph.