Former Raiders HC Jon Gruden said what needed to be said about Vegas’ upcoming 2026 season, and fans may not want to hear it
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to play their inaugural season under Klint Kubiak, and former head coach Jon Gruden thinks they still finish last in the AFC West.
The Las Vegas Raiders will not be winning the AFC West in 2026, at least not according to former head coach Jon Gruden.
The former Raiders coach recently shared his thoughts on his old team’s outlook, and while he sees improvement coming, he believes the division is too stacked for Vegas to climb out of the cellar. Raiders fans may not love the take, but the reality of the AFC West makes it hard to argue.
Gruden said recently on Wake Up Barstool, “I think the Raiders are going to improve, but unfortunately for the Silver and Black, this is a very tough division with established coaches and quarterbacks.”
If there’s anybody who knows what it takes to win in the Silver and Black, it’s Gruden. His last stint as head coach saw the Raiders make the playoffs in 2021. However, he was not at the helm for the remainder of that season. Before that, Vegas went to a Super Bowl and had sustained success under his leadership. Gruden knows what he’s talking about.
The Raiders should still double their win total
The honest truth is that the Raiders should improve. They won only three games last season, making them by far the worst team in the NFL. Doubling that win total shouldn’t be difficult, and a six-win season would be considered a success in 2026. That’s all anyone can ask from this team right now.
Nobody is expecting the Raiders to make the playoffs, win a playoff game, or compete for a Super Bowl. This is the first year of the actual rebuild under coach Clint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek. Vegas might be throwing a rookie quarterback into the fire at some point. The bar is simply competing, being in games, and having a chance to win on a weekly basis. They were nowhere near that standard last season.
The AFC West is loaded
The problem for the Raiders is that the teams around them are talented and getting better. The Kansas City Chiefs had a down year in 2025 and missed the playoffs, but they also dealt with a massive wave of injuries.
Kansas City seems to have addressed every issue from last season, whether through coaching changes, adding running back Kenneth Walker, or a draft class that included Mansour Delaine and several pass rushers who could step into starting roles on the defensive line.
The Denver Broncos were one game away from the Super Bowl last season and finished with the best record in the NFL. The Los Angeles Chargers are always a factor in the regular season, and they made significant changes to improve their offensive line to help quarterback Justin Herbert. L.A. also brought in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
So while the Raiders will be improved, they’re working against divisional opponents who could also be better. That’s the challenge Spytek and Kubiak face in Year 1.
2026 is about the bigger picture
This season is mainly about seeing how Vegas stacks up against the AFC West and identifying what the team needs to improve for the years to come. The Raiders don’t need to be a contending team in 2026, but they do need to be a competing team. As long as they stay in games, show real progress, and double their win total, it should be a successful year, even if they finish last in the division. Training camp is about to start, and things are going to get underway.