The key pieces of new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak’s staff started to take shape over the weekend.
In a series of team announcements, the Raiders named Andrew Janocko offensive coordinator and promoted Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator. Two days earlier, the club announced Mike McCoy will serve as assistant head coach. All three moves were announced by the Raiders in official releases.
Offensive coordinator: Andrew Janocko
The Raiders announced Sunday that Andrew Janocko has been named offensive coordinator.
Janocko most recently served as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks, working with quarterback Sam Darnold during Seattle’s Super Bowl LX season, according to the Raiders. The club said Darnold earned a second straight Pro Bowl selection in 2025 after completing 323-of-477 passes for a career-high 67.7 completion percentage with 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Janocko joined Seattle after one season with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and has 14 years of coaching experience, including 12 in the NFL, the Raiders said. His NFL stops also include the Chicago Bears (2022-23), the Minnesota Vikings (2015-21) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13). He also coached quarterbacks at Mercyhurst University in 2014 and worked as a graduate assistant at Rutgers in 2011.
The Raiders also highlighted Janocko’s family football roots. He is a native of Clearfield, Pa., and his father, Tim, served as head coach at Clearfield Area High School for 38 years. Janocko and his wife, Natalie, have a son, Noah, and a daughter, Isabella.
Defensive coordinator: Rob Leonard
The Raiders announced Sunday that Rob Leonard will serve as defensive coordinator after the club promoted him from run game coordinator and defensive line coach.
Leonard enters his fourth season with the Raiders. He has 16 years of coaching experience, including 13 in the NFL, the team said.
In the release, the Raiders credited last seasons run defense and backfield disruption. The club said Las Vegas finished tied for second in fewest rushing yards allowed per attempt at 3.9. It also ranked third in tackles for loss with 105.
The Raiders also highlighted Maxx Crosby, who made his fifth straight Pro Bowl. The team said Crosby posted 10.0 sacks and 28 tackles for loss, second-most in the NFL.
The club added that Leonard coached productive fronts in 2024 and 2023. It pointed to sack totals and passes defensed from the defensive line during that span.
Assistant head coach: Mike McCoy
The Raiders announced Friday that Mike McCoy will serve as assistant head coach.
McCoy brings 23 years of NFL coaching experience, the team said. He spent four seasons as head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 2013-16. He also worked as offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.
Earlier in his career, McCoy spent nine seasons on the Carolina Panthers offensive staff from 2000-08.
McCoy comes to Las Vegas from the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders said he worked as a senior offensive assistant before the club promoted him to interim head coach for the final 11 games in 2025.
In the release, the Raiders credited McCoy for his work with quarterback Cam Ward. Ward completed 323-of-540 passes for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, the team said.
What it says about the staff build
Taken together, the Raiders’ announcements show Kubiak’s staff being filled out with a quarterbacks coach elevated to coordinator, a defensive assistant promoted from within and a veteran coach added in a senior role.
More additions are still expected as the coaching staff is completed, but the Raiders’ weekend releases established the top of the chart on both sides of the ball and added an experienced assistant head coach to the group.
Update: Matt Robinson joins as secondary coach
According to Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, the Raiders have hired Matt Robinson as a secondary coach, adding another assistant to defensive coordinator Rob Leonard’s staff.
O’Connor reported Robinson recently left the Ravens for the Giants this offseason, but is now headed to Las Vegas. O’Connor also reported Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave Robinson permission to interview and leave despite the move being lateral under league rules.
Robinson coached outside linebackers for Baltimore last season and spent five seasons with the organization, including assisting the defensive line in 2024 and working as a defensive quality control coach in 2023 with a focus on the defensive front, according to O’Connor. He originally joined the Ravens in 2021 as a defensive coaching fellow. O’Connor also noted Robinson worked with Leonard in Baltimore in 2022 and previously coached at Maryland (2019-20) and Connecticut (2017-18).
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
