Raiders introduce new coach Klint
Kubiak with a nod to their storied past
[February 11, 2026]
By MARK ANDERSON
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — They were introduced one by one, six
ex-players who represent Raiders royalty. Four Hall of Famers. Five
Super Bowl champions. All six at least made the big game.
Three took seats to the left and the other three to the right before
new Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak was formally introduced Tuesday and
sat with general manager John Spytek in the middle with the club's
three Lombardi Trophies in front of them.
Those players — Marcus Allen, Rich Gannon, Mike Haynes, Howie Long,
Jim Plunkett and Charles Woodson — maintained serious looks on their
faces as if kickoff was about to begin. And, in a sense, it was.
Their presence was a reminder of the daunting challenge Kubiak faces
in trying to connect the present to the Raiders' long-ago glorious
past.
The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since their last Super Bowl
appearance in the 2002 season. They have made the postseason just
twice since, most recently in the 2021 season. Kubiak will be their
fifth full-time coach since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.
“This is no ordinary job," said Kubiak, just two days removed from
serving as offensive coordinator on the Seahawks' Super
Bowl-championship team. “This is the silver and black. This is the
Raiders. This is a historic franchise. So when the opportunity came
up to stay in Seattle and continue there or to have a chance to come
here and compete with this organization, it was a no-brainer.”
Kubiak acknowledged the task in front of him, but will take a day to
bask in the Super Bowl parade on Wednesday in Seattle.
Then he will have a number of issues to confront, including hiring a
coaching staff — most notably offensive and defensive coordinators.
He also will begin to dig into what to do with the No. 1 overall
draft pick the Raiders own, as well as the more than $91 million in
salary-cap space, according to overthecap.com. And then there's the
Maxx Crosby situation.
Kubiak said he was just getting started when it comes to hiring his
assistants as well as examining the roster needs. He stopped far
short of saying the Raiders will draft Fernando Mendoza, even though
it's widely believed Las Vegas will take the Heisman Trophy-winning
quarterback who guided Indiana to a highly unlikely national
championship.
Owner Mark Davis watched Mendoza that night in Miami Gardens,
Florida, and was joined by Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady.
Davis hinted the organization was taking a strong look at Mendoza,
and the Raiders preferred to hire a coach with an offensive
background "that could grow with somebody."
[to top of second column] |
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak, fourth from left,
poses with from left, Marcus Allen, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Jim
Plunkett, general manager John Spytek and Charles Woodson during an
introductory news conference at the NFL football team's training
facility Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian
Maule)
“It started being, in my mind, that's the direction
we wanted to go,” Davis said. "But at the same time, he had to win
the job because there were some good candidates that we spoke to.”
One big selling point was Kubiak's work with quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold completed 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25
touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season. Drafted third overall
by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold was considered a bust until
leading Minnesota to a 14-win season in 2024. Then came another
14-win season with the Seahawks that culminated with Darnold
hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
“I’m really proud of the process that we put in place," Spytek said.
“We set out to take our time, to be deliberate, to be meticulous, to
find the right leader for this organization going forward. We have a
uniquely challenging offseason with the first overall pick and new
leadership with the head coach, but that’s why it was so important
to us to find the right man to lead this organization forward.”
The elephant that wasn't in the room during the presser was Crosby.
Multiple reports have said the star pass rusher wants out of the
Raiders after being sidelined the final two games this past season
and that he also wasn't interested in a rebuild.
But Crosby, even if he wasn't in the team room for the news
conference, was in the building and among the Raiders to greet
Kubiak upon his arrival. They even had coffee together.
“We want him to be a part of our success going forward,” Kubiak
said. "There’s no doubt about that. He’s one of the best players in
the NFL, so that’s a no brainer to get to work with Maxx and see him
continue to have success with this organization.”
Davis said he definitely wanted to keep Crosby in Las Vegas.
“Maxx has been a great, great Raider,” Davis said. “He is a great
Raider.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
