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New Raiders’ head coach Klint Kubiak had high praise for Mike Macdonald after leaving the Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are just beginning their celebrations after taking down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. However, one downside of the 2025 season coming to an end means that offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak‘s time with the team is up, as he was officially announced as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ new head coach on Tuesday.
With Kubiak heading for the exit door, that means head coach Mike Macdonald‘s first order of business this offseason will involve finding a new offensive coordinator. And while he and Kubiak may be working for different teams now, it’s clear that the newest leader of the Raiders is still quite fond of his old boss.
Klint Kubiak Gushes Over Mike Macdonald After Accepting Raiders Gig
Kubiak has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the coaching ranks in recent years, as his work on the offensive side of the ball has earned him quite a few admirers. The son of former Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint has been around football his entire life, and it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that he now finds himself earning his own shot at being a head coach in the NFL.
After spending time working as both the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2024, respectively, it was Kubiak’s third stop as an offensive coordinator that changed things for him. Kubiak only spent one season working as Macdonald’s offensive coordinator, but turned the team’s offense into one of the most dangerous units in the league.
Kubiak’s work with guys like Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker III helped Seattle roll its way to the Super Bowl. And while Kubiak has deservedly earned his fair share of praise, he believes that all of the Seahawks’ success starts with Macdonald, whom he shouted out when being introduced as the Raiders’ new head coach on Tuesday.
“Mike made my life really hard, and I appreciate that,” Kubiak admitted. “He challenged us every week as a coaching staff. I thought we’d had a good game, and then on Monday, I hated having to look at him in the eye because I knew all the hard questions were coming. But I really appreciated that about him because he brought the best out of us.”
Seahawks Must Begin Searching for Klint Kubiak’s Replacement
GettyNew Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
There’s no doubt that Kubiak earned himself a shot to be a head coach, and he will certainly have his work cut out for him with the Raiders. As for the Seahawks, though, they immediately have a pressing matter that has to be dealt with this offseason, even after winning the Super Bowl. Replacing Kubiak isn’t going to be easy, especially since Seattle is behind the eight-ball when it comes to searching for new coaches.
Of course, having to conduct this sort of search is a lot easier when you are fresh off winning a championship like the Seahawks are. For now, the team is still basking in the wake of its major accomplishment, but knowing how Macdonald works, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s already begun picking out candidates who could potentially join his coaching staff for the 2026 campaign and beyond.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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