After a failed one-year project, the Raiders quickly regrouped and are now making another move that has excited their fan base. For the 2025 season, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith joined the franchise – a head coach and quarterback with plenty of experience – but things did not work out, and they ended up as the worst team in the NFL.
After that year, Pete Carroll failed to find the right formula and was fired, while Geno Smith led the league in interceptions with 16, tied with Tua Tagovailoa. That is why the Raiders turned to Klint Kubiak, the top offensive coordinator of 2025 and Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks after a tremendous season, as their new head coach.
Kubiak worked for a year with Sam Darnold as his quarterback, and both surpassed 4,000 passing yards during the season. They also had a spectacular playoff run without turning the ball over once, defeating the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots to capture the second Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
Klint Kubiak faces a massive challenge
It was only a matter of time after the Super Bowl ended before Klint Kubiak was officially named the Raiders’ new head coach. In postgame interviews, he confirmed it himself, and one day later he was already in Las Vegas signing a five-year contract in an effort to reshape what was the worst franchise in the NFL in 2025.
Kubiak’s main goal is to showcase his offensive mindset and develop Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to become the Raiders’ new quarterback with the first overall pick in the Draft – unless a surprise occurs. However, all signs point to Mendoza and the Raiders being together after April 23.
Kubiak has long been aware of Mendoza’s talent “Really talented guy with a bright future and we’ll see where he ends up, but we’ve got a lot of work to do to get to know him before that time,” said the new Las Vegas Raiders head coach.
Fernando Mendoza was one of the biggest surprises of the season. He was barely on anyone’s radar and finished with a 16-0 record, including playoffs, along with more than 3,500 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and only six interceptions. Deservedly, the Hoosiers quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner is heading to the NFL – and it appears it will be with the Raiders.
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