Klint Kubiak is the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders — and now it’s official.
The Raiders announced the hiring of the former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator on Monday, following the Seahawks’ 29-13 Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.
Kubiak, 38, comes to Las Vegas as a first-time head coach with 12 years of experience in the NFL.
He was pinned down as the final target candidate long before Sunday’s announcement.
The Review-Journal confirmed on Feb. 1 that the Raiders planned to hire Kubiak, news that came a day after the Raiders held their second meeting with him in Seattle.
The deal couldn’t be made official until now due to NFL rules, which bar coaches from signing or agreeing to contracts until their seasons are over.
Kubiak jumped the gun on Sunday by confirming his next steps and saying that he was “fired up,” to join the Raiders during a live interview on the field at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Ca.
Feb. 1 marked the last date that coaches staffed on Super Bowl teams were allowed to be interviewed. From that point, they were prohibited from engaging with other teams until the day after the Super Bowl.
The Raiders’ first interview with Kubiak was conducted virtually on Jan. 9 ahead of the Seahawks’ first playoff game.
He also participated in two interviews with the Arizona Cardinals, which hired former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur in the wake of Kubiak’s preference for Las Vegas.
Kubiak replaces Pete Carroll, who was fired after going 3-14 in his sole season with Raiders.
The Raiders are now on their fifth head coach in the last five years, with the organization’s last playoff appearance dating back to 2021. The team hasn’t been to a Super Bowl since 2003, without a win since 1984.
Now that general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady have concluded spearheading the latest coaching search, the front office is faced with the Raiders still being on the hook to pay some of their former coaches — including more than $30 million of Carroll’s reported three-year, $45 million deal.
Meanwhile, Kubiak is on his sixth different job in the past six years but has seen mostly success.
Sunday was his third time coaching in the Super Bowl, his first calling plays. Kubiak has football family ties, as the eldest son of former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, whose three sons all work in the NFL.
The Raiders’ young offensive talent, the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and around $90 million in cap space gives Klint Kubiak foundational pieces.
Running back Ashton Jeanty, part of a pair of young Raiders offensive stars that includes tight end Brock Bowers, has already expressed excitement about the new coach. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza – the likely top pick — has done the same, praising Kubiak’s development of Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold this season.
Next, attention will turn to the building of Kubiak’s staff. His options at offensive coordinator seem obvious given his experience on that side of the ball, while his defensive coordinator hire may be a more unexpected name.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
