Klint Kubiak is officially the most popular head coaching candidate in this year’s hiring cycle.
Six team have now requested an interview with the Seahawks offensive coordinator, the most of any candidate thus far. The latest is from the Dolphins, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, and Kubiak is set to interview with them today.
The Dolphins join the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Raiders, and Titans in expressing interest in the 38-year-old. Other coaches from teams in the wild card round as well as John Harbaugh could catch up with their interviews for next week, but for right now, Kubiak is the hottest name on the market.
It is easy to see why. He came up under his father and longtime offensive guru Gary Kubiak in Denver and in Minnesota; the latter spot also included time with Mike Zimmer until 2021. After returning to Denver for one season, Klint Kubiak was hired by Kyle Shanahan to be the 49ers pass game coordinator in 2023. Like others in that position before him, he quickly earned an offensive coordinator gig. San Francisco finished with fourth-most passing yards in the league in Kubiak’s debut year, even more impressive considering they also had the fewest passing attempts.
The Saints then hired Kubiak as their offensive coordinator in 2024, but after an exciting start, the unit faded down the stretch. When New Orleans brought in Kellen Moore last offseason, Kubiak departed for Seattle to work under Mike Macdonald. He immediately molded the Seahawks’ offense into one of the best in the league. Among his success were quarterback Sam Darnold, who answered questions about his ability to match his 2024 performances; wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving; and running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, who were one of the league’s best one-two combos.
The Dolphins have gone with offensive coaches for five of their six head coaching hires dating back to 2006, but they could also be looking for a stronger culture-setter as they head for at least a semi-rebuild. Another coach with connections to Shanahan – 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh – could fit that bill. The Dolphins requested an interview with Saleh, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though that cannot take place until next week.
Saleh’s success as a defensive coordinator is undeniable. Four years in San Francisco got him hired in New York, but his tenure as the Jets head coach did not go according to plan. The team went 20-36, though it is hard to argue that Saleh was their biggest problem. Owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, and quarterback Zach Wilson were just as reponsible, if not more so, for the Jets’ struggles in that time. If the Dolphins share that perception, they may be more willing to give Saleh a second chance in the top job.