The end of conference championship weekend has kicked the Las Vegas Raiders coaching search into a new gear.
In addition to several more coaches becoming available with their seasons concluded, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady’s broadcast duties have concluded for the year with the Super Bowl set to be carried on NBC.
That means one of the key decision-makers has one less outside responsibility and the rash of activity on Monday is one indication the process is proceeding quickly.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady met with the team again in Las Vegas after first discussing the job in a virtual interview last week. Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Davis Webb is set to do the same on Monday night, a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs.
Another candidate appears to be out of the mix, however.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who had been holding off on signing his deal to become the Chargers’ offensive coordinator with the Raiders job still a possiblity, officially reported to work in Los Angeles on Monday.
He is now out of the running.
Brady and Webb, however, are very much in the mix. That could also include Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now free to conduct a second interview through Sunday as he prepares to coach in the Super Bowl.
The Raiders could come to a verbal agreement with Kubiak before the game, but nothing can be signed or announced until after it if Kubiak is the choice.
No such restrictions are on Brady or Webb.
Brady, 36, has worked with some very successful quarterbacks during his career.
The south Florida native and William & Mary alum earned the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in college football during his first year as a coordinator. That’s when he directed LSU’s passing game in 2019, the season Joe Burrow obliterated records and won the Heisman Trophy throwing to Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.
Burrow nearly doubled his passing yards and improved from 16 touchdowns to 60 in his one season working with Brady.
He has spent the past four years mentoring Josh Allen in Buffalo, first as quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
Brady’s first coaching job was as an offensive assistant to Sean Payton with the Saints in 2017.
He is most known for spreading the ball around and finding ways to best utilize his weapons as opposed to staying with one system regardless of the talent at his disposal.
The Bills led the league in rushing yards this season with running back James Cook winning the rushing title.
Brady is still considered a strong candidate for the Bills head coaching position after the team moved on from Sean McDermott.
So is Webb, who played for the Bills and remains close friends with Allen.
He is considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in the league despite coaching for just three seasons since he last played in the NFL in 2022.
Webb, who just turned 31 on Jan. 22, would be the second-youngest head coach in NFL history behind only Sean McVay when he was hired. Webb would be the youngest current coach in the league.
The Texas Tech alum has become a hot commodity in the coaching world largely through his work with Bo Nix in Denver, mentoring the 2024 first-round pick to two playoff appearances in two seasons.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.