Cooper Kupp Surprised by Klint Kubiak’s Sideline Energy with Raiders

Cooper Kupp has seen clips of Klint Kubiak jumping around and high-fiving players on the Las Vegas Raiders sideline. The Seattle Seahawks receiver says that’s a side of his former offensive coordinator he rarely saw last season.

Kupp spoke Wednesday about watching Kubiak in his first season as a head coach. He even joked about seeing Kubiak do the splits, according to Gregg Bell’s account of the media session, shared by the California Post on Yahoo Sports.

“There’s some clips I’m like, ‘There’s no way that’s Klint,’” Kupp said.

The reaction fits how Kupp described Kubiak before he took the Raiders job. Kupp recalled a coach who could get fired up briefly and then quickly settle back into his usual demeanor.

Kupp played under Kubiak last season, when the offensive coordinator helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX. Kubiak left for Las Vegas after the championship, and the two will be on opposite sidelines Sunday when the Seahawks visit Allegiant Stadium.

Several members of Kubiak’s Raiders staff will see familiar faces, too. Las Vegas offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko coached Seattle’s quarterbacks last season, and offensive line coach Rick Dennison worked with the Seahawks’ running game. Seattle promoted Brian Fleury to offensive coordinator after Kubiak’s departure.

The reunion comes as Kubiak prepares to start a new quarterback. The Raiders named Fernando Mendoza their starter after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. The No. 1 overall pick will make his first NFL start against the defending champions.

Mendoza has thrown eight regular-season passes, all in relief against New England in October. The Seahawks enter the matchup leading the NFL in both total defense and pass defense, allowing 244.2 total yards and 155.1 passing yards per game, according to the Raiders’ game preview.

Kubiak said Wednesday that he wants Mendoza to take charge of the offense and that the staff’s job this week is to give him enough practice reps to get comfortable. Sunday will give Kubiak a chance to see how the rookie handles that responsibility against a defense the coach knows from his year in Seattle.

It will also give Kupp his first look from the opposite sideline at the head coach he’s been watching in those clips.