The Seattle Seahawks are one step away from achieving the ultimate NFL dream: winning the Super Bowl. However, even before the most important game of the season is played, the franchise is already facing an uncomfortable reality: its successful year could come at a high cost and make it difficult to replicate that success in 2026.
Shedeur Sanders playfully shoves Dak Prescott during a lighthearted exchange at the Pro Bowl
The main focus is on Klint Kubiak, the architect of the offense that led Sam Darnold to an unexpectedly dominant season. All signs point to Kubiak taking over as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ head coach once the Super Bowl concludes. For Seattle, this means far more than losing its offensive coordinator; it signals the beginning of a deep reconfiguration of the coaching staff.
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Success often comes at a price in the NFL, and the Seahawks are paying it at the very peak of Mike Macdonald’s project.
The departures taking shape for the Raiders
Kubiak’s arrival in Las Vegas would not come alone. Reports indicate that several trusted assistants could follow him, further weakening Seattle’s structure. Adding to that is a key name: Aden Durde, the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, who has also emerged as a potential candidate to join the Raiders.
Although Macdonald is the one who calls the defensive plays, Durde’s departure would force Seattle to replace two coordinators at the same time, a complex task given how late it is in the league’s hiring cycle. For the Raiders, on the other hand, these departures would represent an opportunity to accelerate their rebuild heading into 2026.
The influence expected from Brady in 2026
Beyond the coaching staff, the Raiders are looking toward the future with a figure who promises to reshape the narrative: Tom Brady. As a minority owner and influential voice within the organization, Brady is expected to have a direct impact on team culture, decision-making, and talent attraction starting in 2026.
His presence brings not only credibility, but a winning mindset the Raiders have searched for over decades. With a potential franchise quarterback in the Draft and a new coaching staff led by Kubiak, Brady could become the catalyst that turns Las Vegas into a true contender.
While Seattle dreams of a Super Bowl victory, it already knows that the day after will bring difficult decisions. Winning in the NFL almost always means starting over, because success carries a heavy cost for champions.