Klint Kubiak is heading to Las Vegas, and this time, it’s not just for a weekend getaway. Just hours after helping the Seattle Seahawks to a 29-13 win in Super Bowl XL, the offensive coordinator confirmed what many around the league had suspected: he’s taking over as the new head coach of the Raiders.
“You guys know I’m going to Las Vegas, so I’m fired up about it,” Kubiak told NFL Network’s Stacy Dales in the postgame celebration in Santa Clara. And with that, the NFL’s coaching carousel added one of its most intriguing moves of the offseason.
For the Raiders, this marks a new chapter after parting ways with 74-year-old Pete Carroll, who lasted just one season in Vegas and finished with a 3-14 record. While the team hasn’t made the hire official yet-likely out of respect for Kubiak’s Super Bowl run-the writing is on the wall. The Houston native is set to join a franchise that’s looking to rebuild around a new core, including Tom Brady in the front office and presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza under center.
Kubiak’s coaching roots run deep. After playing quarterback at Colorado State, he got his start on the sidelines at Texas A&M-his father Gary Kubiak’s alma mater-serving as an offensive quality control coach and graduate assistant.
From there, he joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 under Leslie Frazier, staying on staff as the team transitioned to Mike Zimmer. In 2021, he earned his first shot at calling plays, stepping in as offensive coordinator for the Vikings, replacing his father after his retirement.
Kubiak’s résumé since then reads like a tour through some of the league’s most respected offensive systems. He spent time with the Broncos and 49ers before landing the offensive coordinator job in New Orleans in 2024.
That stint was short-lived-he was let go following Dennis Allen’s firing-but it didn’t take long for him to land on his feet. Mike Macdonald brought him to Seattle for the 2025 season, and that move paid off in a big way.
In just one year, Kubiak turned the Seahawks’ offense into one of the most explosive in the league. Seattle finished third in scoring at 28.4 points per game, eighth in rushing with a ground attack averaging 228.1 yards per contest, and eighth in total offense at 351.4 yards per game.
The offense hit the 30-point mark ten times, going 9-1 in those games. That kind of efficiency and consistency speaks volumes, especially considering the quarterback leading the charge: Sam Darnold, enjoying a career renaissance under Kubiak’s guidance.
The ground game was a two-headed monster, with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet combining for over 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns. But it was the breakout of Jaxon Smith-Njigba that really turned heads.
With D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett stepping back into supporting roles, Smith-Njigba emerged as a true No. 1 receiver, leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
He averaged a staggering 105.5 yards per game, becoming a go-to target in clutch moments.
Now, Kubiak takes that offensive pedigree to a Raiders team desperate for a spark. The pieces are intriguing-especially with a potential franchise quarterback on the way-but the challenge is real. Las Vegas hasn’t had a winning season since relocating, and the fanbase is hungry for more than just headlines.
If the Kubiak name sounds familiar, it should. Klint’s father, Gary, was a staple in Houston football lore.
Hired in 2006 as the Texans’ second-ever head coach, Gary Kubiak guided the team through eight seasons, eventually becoming the franchise’s all-time winningest coach before his departure in 2013. He later led the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 title with Peyton Manning under center, cementing his legacy as one of the sharpest offensive minds of his generation.
Now, it’s Klint’s turn to carve out his own legacy-not just as Gary’s son, but as a head coach in his own right. If his work in Seattle is any indication, the Raiders might have finally found the right architect to rebuild their future.