Before aiming for a Super Bowl, Klint Kubiak reportedly accepts the Raiders' head coach role, poised to shape Las Vegas's future with a top draft pick.
First things first.
First, Klint Kubiak has a Super Bowl to win.
After that, he's got a new team to build.
The Raiders have reportedly picked a head coach to pair with their likely franchise quarterback as Las Vegas is closing on a deal to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as its next head coach.
Ironically, Kubiak would replace Seattle icon Pete Carroll, who was fired after one failed season.
With Seattle playing in Super Bowl 2026 next Sunday against the Patriots, Kubiak is rather busy right now.
But soon enough - and officially after Sunday - the 38-year-old Kubiak, the son of Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak and an architect of Seattle's winning offense will make his move.
The Raiders went 3-14 to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and in what figures to be a fine match with Kubiak, they are expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The legendary Tom Brady, a minority owner in Las Vegas, has a big voice here and he worked with Raiders general manager John Spytek during that team's coaching search.
And now Kubiak will join that brain trust to make the final call on the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
As it happens, the incumbent starting QB of the Raiders is Geno Smith, who did his best work as a member of the Seahawks.
The Raiders have not won a playoff game since advancing to Super Bowl XXXVII 23 years ago. ... and Kubiak, who has helped Seattle QB Sam Darnold reach career heights with the Seahawks, will now be charged with huge responsibilities with the Raiders.
The last time that franchise owned the No. 1 pick, it was used in the 2007 draft on quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who became an all-time flop.
Kubiak's first order of business will be to not repeat that error ... but only after he works to lead the Seattle franchise to its second-ever Super Bowl title.