Seahawks' Macdonald Praises Raiders' Kubiak as Perfect Fit

Seattle HC says Kubiak's team-first mentality and coaching approach will be crucial for turning around the Raiders

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:13pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Raiders' silver and black colors, conceptually representing the fragmented state of the team's identity and the need for Kubiak's unifying leadership.Kubiak's team-first approach aims to reshape the Raiders' fractured identity and rebuild a winning culture in Las Vegas.Henderson Today

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has offered a glowing endorsement of new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, saying Kubiak's team-first mindset and coaching style make him the ideal choice to fix the Raiders' struggling roster and culture. Macdonald, who worked closely with Kubiak last season, believes Kubiak's focus on winning over individual stats and his ability to unite an entire coaching staff will be vital as the Raiders look to end their recent run of losing seasons.

Why it matters

The Raiders have struggled mightily in recent years, winning fewer than 30 games over the past two seasons due to a combination of roster issues and poor coaching. Kubiak's hiring represents a crucial opportunity for the franchise to turn things around, and Macdonald's endorsement suggests the Raiders have found the right person to lead that turnaround.

The details

Macdonald explained that Kubiak's team-first approach and ability to get the most out of an entire coaching staff will be crucial assets as he takes over the Raiders. Rather than focusing solely on offensive statistics, Macdonald said Kubiak is always thinking about what's best for the team to win. Macdonald also praised Kubiak's day-to-day mentality, messaging to the offense, and how he treats the rest of the coaching staff.

  • Kubiak was hired as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders on February 10, 2026.
  • Macdonald made his comments about Kubiak at the NFL Owners' Meetings in late March 2026.

The players

Klint Kubiak

The new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, who is tasked with turning around the struggling franchise.

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who previously worked closely with Kubiak and has offered a strong endorsement of his abilities.

John Spytek

The general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, who will work alongside Kubiak to rebuild the team's roster.

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What they’re saying

“I just think that he's such a great team player. He's never looking at it just through a lens of, you know, what's best for offensive stats. It's always about what's best for the team, what's best for us to win. That's not just like roster management or like how you're calling plays. It's just day in, day out.”

— Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach

“Practice, the mentality he has, the messaging he has to the offense, um, how he treats the rest of our staff, all those things are really important. So, I'm excited for him. We're going to miss him. It was a great partnership for, for a year.”

— Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach

What’s next

The Raiders will look to Kubiak to quickly implement his team-first coaching philosophy and get the most out of the roster as they aim to end their recent run of losing seasons.

The takeaway

Kubiak's hiring represents a crucial opportunity for the Raiders to turn things around, and Macdonald's strong endorsement suggests the team has found the right person to lead that turnaround with his team-first mentality and ability to unite an entire coaching staff.