While Las Vegas Raiders fans are rightfully elated about their team’s acquisition of “their guy,” it’s important to remember that nothing is definitive. In fact, it will take some time before any final decisions are made.
Momentum is not the same as proof.
A report that Klint Kubiak is “hopeful of working out a deal” is about interest, not a done deal. It also comes with a delay, because nothing can be finalized until after the Super Bowl. In the NFL, staff decisions, scheme planning and roster work start right away. Waiting to finish the hire can force the new coach to play catch-up.
Can confirm that Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is hopeful of working out a deal to be the next head coach of the @Raiders.
No deal can be finalized until after the Super Bowl
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) February 1, 2026
Did the Raiders finally hit a home run?
Calling this the Raiders’ biggest coaching hire in decades should not trigger a victory lap. Big hires are judged by results and routine: the staff he builds, the weekly standards, the quarterback plan, game management, and how the team responds when things go bad. Hype is easy. Structure is harder.
The rosy version also assumes everything breaks right. It assumes the Raiders hold on to the No. 1 pick and take Fernando Mendoza, then plug him in with Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers and watch the offense take off. Even if that happens, a rookie quarterback does not need a hero. He needs a system that shows up every week: clear protections, coaching that holds up in rough stretches, and assistants who fix mistakes without panic.
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The reported chemistry with Tom Brady is a plus, not a guarantee. Jeremy Fowler shared a source saying, “Both are all ball.” That mindset can help. It can also narrow focus if the staff gets obsessed with the scheme and ignores the hard parts: clear authority, accountability, and a plan that supports the defense and special teams, too.
If the hire happens, the point is simple: treat it as step one, not the solution. A first-time head coach, even a strong coordinator, has to prove he can run the whole operation, not just call plays. That is the standard. Anything less is another reset that looks bold in January and falls apart by October.
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