💥 BREAKING NEWS: The Raiders’ Klint Kubiak Plan Is Practically Done—and the Silence Says More Than the Words ⚡.DH

The Las Vegas Raiders are still technically searching for a head coach. But only on paper.

According to league insider Ian Rapoport, the outcome of that search is no longer in doubt. Klint Kubiak is expected to become the next head coach of the Raiders, with the only remaining obstacle being timing.

Because Kubiak is preparing for the Super Bowl, the deal cannot be finalized just yet. Everything else, however, appears settled.

And that quiet certainty is what’s turning heads.

During Super Bowl Opening Night in San Jose, Rapoport made it clear that this wasn’t a last-minute development. This was the plan.

While Raiders reporters gather around Kubiak throughout the week, he’s expected to deflect questions and keep his focus narrow—standard practice for coaches in limbo. But behind the scenes, the direction has already been chosen.

“He is going to the Raiders,” Rapoport said flatly. “That is, in fact, the plan.”

What makes this moment different from past Raiders hires is how deliberate it feels. There’s no sense of panic. No scramble for relevance.

No rushed attempt to fix everything at once. Instead, the organization appears aligned around a long-term vision—one built to move quickly, but not recklessly.

For a franchise that has struggled with instability for more than two decades, that alone feels unfamiliar.

Rapoport also outlined why the Raiders’ opening proved so appealing to Kubiak, despite recent on-field failures. Las Vegas isn’t starting from nothing. The roster, while flawed, is flexible.

The team has meaningful cap space. And perhaps most importantly, the Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

That pick is widely expected to be quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

A Kubiak–Mendoza pairing has already begun to take shape in the minds of fans and league observers, not as hype, but as structure.

Kubiak has built a reputation as an offensive coordinator who maximizes quarterback talent and adapts systems to personnel. Walking into a situation with a clean slate at quarterback—and the authority to shape it—matters.

It also suggests intent.

Raiders general manager John Spytek echoed many of the same themes earlier this offseason. He spoke openly about preparation, resources, and a plan already in motion. His language was measured, almost restrained—but consistent.

“We’ve got a plan in place,” Spytek said. “The work has already begun.”

That line stands out.

Because it implies the Raiders aren’t waiting for the hire to start rebuilding. They’re already doing it.

Spytek emphasized ownership support, draft capital, facilities, and expectations. He spoke about “constant, meticulous improvement”—not a slogan often associated with this franchise. And he framed the next head coach’s arrival not as a reset, but as an acceleration.

Kubiak appears to be stepping into a situation designed for momentum.

That doesn’t guarantee success. The Raiders’ recent history offers plenty of reasons for skepticism. But the tone has shifted. The messaging is consistent. The pieces seem aligned in a way they rarely have been.

And maybe that’s why this moment feels heavier than a typical coaching rumor.

Nothing has been signed. No press conference has been scheduled. Yet the league is already treating the outcome as inevitable.

As Super Bowl week continues, Kubiak will keep his answers short. The Raiders will keep quiet. And the official announcement will wait.

But for the first time in a long while, Las Vegas doesn’t feel like it’s chasing relevance.

It feels like it already chose a direction—and simply hasn’t said it out loud yet.