Las Vegas Raiders Make Mysterious Move by Hiring Zach Azzanni as Wide Receivers Coach—What This Means for the Team’s Future Revealed

When a new era dawns at the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s not just the players who shift — the coaching staff pivots sharply too. Klint Kubiak, stepping into his role as head coach, is busy assembling a team of his own trusted experts, and the latest scoop is nothing short of intriguing. Word on the street, courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, is that Zach Azzanni, fresh off a stint as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receivers guru, is headed to Sin City to take on the same role. Now, this isn’t just a routine hire. Azzanni’s nearly ten seasons in the NFL — with stops shaping talent in Chicago, Denver, New York, and Pittsburgh — reveal a coach with a particular knack for molding wideouts into game-changers. And let’s not forget his college coaching foundation, with years spent cultivating talent across SEC powerhouses like Florida and Tennessee. The connection between Kubiak and Azzanni dates back to their days in Denver, where their collaboration aimed to lift the passing game — an effort that saw promising production from receivers such as Jerry Jeudy. It’s clear the Raiders aren’t just filling seats here; they’re handpicking a coach who fits their vision for cultivating young receivers like Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. Dive deeper and you’ll see a seasoned coach with a reputation for fast-tracking talent — from Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick to Garrett Wilson — which makes this move one to watch closely. LEARN MORE

New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak continues to fill out his first coaching staff, reportedly hiring Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni to the same position in Las Vegas, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Raiders are expected to hire Zach Azzanni as wide receivers coach, per source.

Azzanni will enter his 10th season in the NFL and was most recently with the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/3Giok1dD2w

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 18, 2026

Let’s get to know Azzanni some more.

Previous job:

He was the Steelers’ wide receivers coach under Mike Tomlin for two years, 2024 and 2025.

Age:

He is 49 and turns 50 in August.

Coaching experience:

Azzanni has been in the NFL for nine seasons, and 2026 will mark a full decade. He spent time with the Chicago Bears (2017), Denver Broncos (2018-2022), and New York Jets (2023), in addition to the last two seasons in Pittsburgh. He was a college coach from 1999 to 2016, working at SEC schools Florida and Tennessee while also spending a year at Wisconsin. He’s primarily been a wide receivers coach throughout his career, with a few short stints as a passing game and offensive coordinator in college.

Kubiak ties:

They worked together for one year in Devner (2022), when Kubiak was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Azzanni coached the wide receivers under Nathaniel Hackett. The Broncos ranked 19th in passing yards while Jerry Jeudy was the team’s leading receiver with 67 catches, 972 yards and six touchdowns that year.

Why the Raiders are interested:

While it was only one season, he does have some familiarity with Kubiak. Azzanni has been coaching wide receivers for roughly a quarter-century and, clearly, Kubiak trusts him to develop wideouts like Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. Azzanni also has a decent track record of molding young receivers, working with Courtland Sutton, Jeudy and Tim Patrick in Denver, and Garrett Wilson in New York within the first two years of each of their careers.