Raiders Today

Most Encouraging Takeaways From Kubiak’s First Raiders Presser

The Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach just got interviewed. What are some of the biggest positives to take away from his opening speech?
Fernando Alfaro-Donis|
Feb 10, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak speaks at introductory press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 10, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak speaks at introductory press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders knew that in order to change their franchise around, they needed to have a fresh mind at the helm of their franchise after having the oldest head coach in the league come out of retirement to lead them in 2025.

Pete Carroll was clearly not the best option for them moving forward, so the Raiders went out and got the best candidate there was on the market. Klint Kubiak showed that he's one of the best offensive minds in the NFL by helping the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl. What are some encouraging takeaways for the Raiders from his opening presser?

Right Man for the Job

Immediately, something that sticks out about Kubiak is his tone and attitude. It's clear that he's here to establish a culture and hold his players to a higher degree. He wants to turn the Raiders franchise around, to revert them to the grit and heart they played with in the old days.

The Raiders front office made sure to surround him with Raiders legends to show that they're confident in him as the man who will usher in a new age for the Silver and Black. He already seems like a great personality and locker room presence, but what does that mean for the Raiders' roster decisions looming over this offseason?

Prioritizing a Franchise Legend

There has been a lot of chatter in the offseason regarding Maxx Crosby's future with the team, and he was all smiles during Carroll's opening press conference, which he attended. It's clear that he had a lot of hope for them in 2025, and with the way Carroll shut him down for the season to ensure they get the first overall pick. It must've left a bad taste in his mouth.

However, Kubiak meeting up with him to share a cup of coffee away from the cameras and media displays true leadership. Crosby's future is still uncertain, but I think he may want to stick around to see where Kubiak wants to take the Raiders.

Of Sound Mind

One of Kubiak's biggest decisions in his first year as the Raiders' head coach will be what they decide to do with the first overall pick. They have a clear need at quarterback, and the top quarterback prospect is available to them. However, I think it would be wise for the Raiders to gauge all of their options and see if that's the best direction for them to take.

As incredible as Fernando Mendoza has been over the past year, he's one of the weaker quarterback prospects projected to go first overall. If Caleb Williams and Cam Ward were in the same draft class as Mendoza, would the Raiders' decision at first be the same no-brainer decision it is now?

Fernando Mendoza
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) gets loose before the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ultimately, the Raiders have to prioritize what's best for them and their franchise moving forward, and Kubiak has that in mind. If a team offers a trade package the Raiders can't refuse, it'd be smart for them to trade out of the first overall pick this season to increase their outlook over the next couple of seasons.

It's all dependent on what Kubiak sees in Mendoza when he watches his tape, but the Raiders' top brass have already shown a clear interest in him. John Spytek and the rest of the Raiders' higher-ups were watching Mendoza when he won the National Championship, and I think he, as a quarterback prospect, would fit perfectly with what Kubiak is envisioning the Raiders offense to be.

Faith in Their Stars

While Crosby may not have been in attendance, their stars on the offensive side of the ball were. Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty made sure to show up in support of their new head coach, and when asked about Jeanty's efficiency and production in his rookie season, Kubiak answered by saying that a successful rushing attack takes an entire team.

That's the best attitude Jeanty could've asked for in his new head coach heading into his sophomore season. Kubiak knows what it takes to build a Super Bowl-winning rushing attack, and he knows that all of their faults don't rest on Jeanty's shoulders. Under Kubiak, both of them will shine, but I'm excited to see how much better Jeanty looks in 2026.

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Fernando Alfaro-Donis
FERNANDO ALFARO-DONIS

Fernando Alfaro-Donis found his passion for sports playing high school football, which led him to pursue journalism as an English major at UCLA. He also covers the UCLA Bruins and the Los Angeles Rams as an On SI team reporter.