Klint Kubiak opened his first news conference as the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach with gratitude. Then, he pivoted quickly to the themes he wants to define his tenure: legacy, physicality and the daily process.
“Really, really excited to be here,” Kubiak said Monday, thanking God, Raiders owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady, along with Egon Durban and Michael Meldman. He also thanked general manager John Spytek and emphasized the importance of alignment between coaching and personnel.
“Just spending time with John, I know how important it is for us to have a really great relationship,” Kubiak said, adding that he is “really excited about how we’re going to communicate and how we’re going to lead this building together.”
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Kubiak also made a point to recognize former Raiders, calling the organization’s treatment of alumni part of the franchise’s reputation. He said he wants current players to feel supported by those who built the standard that still hangs on the walls.
The remarks were heavy on reverence and light on specifics. That was by design. Kubiak said he is coming off a season that ended “about two days ago” and framed Monday as an introduction rather than a victory lap.
“This is not a day to go out and cash checks,” he said. “This is a day to help say hello and get to know everybody.”
Kubiak credited his time with the Seattle Seahawks, including general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald, for shaping his approach. He also offered a brief nod to Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. The young play-caller called the Super Bowl MVP, saying he planned to attend Seattle’s parade before returning to Las Vegas “and get to work.”
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When Kubiak discussed football, he focused more on identity than on play design. He described the Raiders job as “no ordinary job.” In fact, he highlighted the “Silver and Black” as a historic brand. At the same time, he acknowledged that leaving Seattle was “a no-brainer.” He mentioned growing up watching Broncos football and experiencing the Raiders’ influence through NFL Films and the franchise’s rich history, which includes iconic elements like “the Autumn Wind,” as well as legends Howie Long and Jim Plunkett.
The standard, he said, will be measured on “silent tape,” not slogans.
“It’s nothing that we say,” Kubiak said. “It’s what we do on the field.”
He listed the priorities as effort, physicality and “all the little things that win that have nothing to do with scheme,” then tied them to the organization’s mantra.
“When you say ‘Commitment to Excellence,’ … the ultimate goal is (the Super Bowl),” Kubiak said. “But you have to be about the work if you want to get there.”
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images