The Las Vegas Raiders have finally landed a deal with Klint Kubiak to be their next head coach. After being patient for over a month since the team fired Pete Carroll, the Raiders got their guy from the Seattle Seahawks. Kubiak is coming off a Super Bowl win in just one year as Seattle’s offensive coordinator and is now setting sail into Las Vegas.
Kubiak orchestrated a high-caliber offense that became one of the best offenses in the NFL this season. Although Seattle had a defense that was a lockdown factor during their Super Bowl run, Kubiak moved the chains efficiently for his offense.
As his time in Seattle comes to a close, he embarks on a new challenge in Las Vegas. It will be a daunting task taking over the franchise with the worst record last season, but Kubiak has consistently approached every obstacle with confidence to overcome it.
A New Face Welcomed With Open Arms
On Tuesday, Kubiak was officially introduced as the Las Vegas Raiders’ 25th head coach in franchise history. At just 38 years old, Kubiak becomes the youngest head coach the team has hired since Lane Kiffin in 2007. It is refreshing to have youth come into the organization and learn the ropes of being a first-time head coach.
The Raiders welcomed Kubiak with a very powerful committee around him on Tuesday morning. This introductory press conference felt very energized compared to other Raiders’ introductions in recent years. It was a monumental event that the alumni members were a part of the welcoming ceremony.
Charles Woodson, Rich Gannon, Marcus Allen, Jim Plunkett, Howie Long, and Mike Haynes all welcomed Klint Kubiak on stage. All of these former players contributed to leading the franchise to a Super Bowl during their careers. The alumni’s presence in that room wasn’t just about being there because they were asked to be there; it was because they’re confident in Kubiak to lead the organization.
Klint Kubiak Accepts a Challenging Task of Rebuilding
Kubiak let it be known that he is not afraid to be challenged at an organization such as the Raiders. From long-term instability, frequent staff changes, to resetting nearly every season, Kubiak understands what he is dealing with.
He acknowledged that he could have stayed with the Seahawks, but he wants to go somewhere else where he can build his own future. Kubiak saw the Raiders as the one franchise that stood out to him due to their mystique and not an ordinary job.
“This is the Silver and Black. This is the Raiders. This is a historic franchise,” Kubiak said. “It was a no-brainer (to take this job)… ‘The Autumn Wind is a Raider.’ I can still hear that in my mind when I was growing up. It’s pretty powerful sitting up here… It’s really important to me that we are a gritty team like they were in the old days.”
Kubiak has seen firsthand what the Raiders have gone through for decades through the lens of his father’s eyes. Gary Kubiak, who formerly played and coached the Denver Broncos, knows the history of the silver and black. Competing in the AFC West with Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton, and Andy Reid challenges Kubiak to battle it out in the division.
He has emphasized the importance of earning the trust of his team numerous times. The Seahawks knew Kubiak could lead an organization after leading them to a Super Bowl title.
Kubiak Earned Respect Through His Results
The Seahawks spoke very highly of their former offensive coordinator after just one season with the team. After capturing their second Super Bowl title in franchise history, the amount of respect Kubiak received shows how much they believed in his leadership.
Mike MacDonald holds Kubiak in high regard for his professionalism and leadership in Seattle. MacDonald knows that replacing Kubiak won’t be an easy task after finishing the year with a top-10 offense. The respect that MacDonald showed to his former offensive coordinator made the locker room believe that they could follow under his lead.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has repeatedly expressed his gratitude towards Kubiak after finishing with a 14-3 record, claiming that he will accomplish big things with the Raiders.
Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker also commended Kubiak for paving the way for their success. “‘He was very important. He made a great impact on our offense,'” Walker said. “‘Kubiak brought us all the way here, and we won a Super Bowl.'”
The Seahawks will forever be indebted to Kubiak as another chapter opens in Las Vegas. Despite leaving Seattle, he has the opportunity to prove he can be a head coach in the league.
Can Kubiak Make the Raiders Competitive?
Although Klint Kubiak has twelve years of coaching experience added to his résumé, he enters the league alongside other younger coaches. Kubiak joins Ben Johnson, Liam Coen, Joe Brady, and Mike LaFluer as the next cycle of young coaches.
Depending on how the Raiders build their staff this offseason, overall, Kubiak comes into a unique situation to approach the offseason. With over $100 million to spend in free agency, the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, and the possibility of bringing in personnel he has previously worked with, Kubiak has a strong hand to play.
https://twitter.com/CondorSZN/status/2018073552835022859?s=20
The Raiders have Maxx Crosby, Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Kolton Miller as their franchise pillars. The organization has failed to stabilize for decades due to poor coaching, bad signings, and frequent changes in the front office. Laying the foundation with Kubiak in command could finally solve their problems by progressing forward in the right direction.
Since 2003, Las Vegas has just two winning seasons (without any playoff wins to show for it) and are 48-90 record in the division. The current landscape of the team gives Kubiak leverage to implement a new system that could turn the organization around.
A long offseason follows as Kubiak prepares his staff to be finalized by the upcoming NFL Combine and free agency. The driver’s seat is all his as he attempts to lead another franchise to seek similar success to Seattle in due time. It won’t be done overnight. But once the Raiders find their footing in their operations, they have a shot at competing for a title in the future.
Leave a comment