Raiders QB Kirk Cousins Excited to Reunite with Klint Kubiak

Veteran QB cites coaching staff, young talent as key factors in signing with Las Vegas

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:40pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a quarterback in motion, with overlapping planes and shapes representing the various elements that influenced Cousins' choice to join the Raiders.A cubist interpretation of a quarterback's decision-making process, highlighting the strategic factors that drew Kirk Cousins to the Raiders.Las Vegas Today

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, but his primary motivation was the opportunity to work again with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whom he previously played under with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins praised Kubiak's football acumen and the chance to be part of the Raiders' young, talented roster as key factors in his decision to join the team.

Why it matters

Cousins' familiarity with Kubiak's offensive system could give him an advantage in competing for the Raiders' starting QB job in 2026, potentially providing a significant upgrade at the position after several subpar seasons for the franchise.

The details

Cousins spent a few seasons playing under Kubiak when the latter was the Vikings' quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. The veteran QB cited his excitement to reunite with Kubiak, as well as Rick Dennison and Andrew Janocko, other coaches he's worked with in the past and had success with. Cousins also expressed enthusiasm about the young talent on the Raiders' roster and the opportunity to be part of building something special in Las Vegas.

  • Cousins signed his contract with the Raiders on April 2, 2026.
  • Kubiak was the Vikings' quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2020 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021, the years Cousins was the starting QB in Minnesota.

The players

Kirk Cousins

A veteran NFL quarterback who has signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2026 season.

Klint Kubiak

The offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, who previously worked with Cousins as the Vikings' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

Rick Dennison

An assistant coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, who has also worked with Cousins in the past.

Andrew Janocko

An assistant coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, who has also worked with Cousins in the past.

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What they’re saying

“It starts with the coaching staff. I was really excited to work with coaches I've worked with before in Klint Kubiak, Rick Dennison, Andrew Janocko. I had some of my best years playing with them. Coaching is a big deal in this league, so getting around them excited me. I think it's a team that has a lot of young talent and they're building something special, and I want to be a part of that.”

— Kirk Cousins, Raiders Quarterback

“I can talk about him all I want, but my actions really show what I think of him, by being here. Great football mind, hard working, there's a humility there that I deeply respect. He's a great question-asker who wants to do what the quarterback's comfortable with.”

— Kirk Cousins, Raiders Quarterback

What’s next

NFL insiders believe there is a chance that Cousins could be the Week 1 starter in Vegas later this fall. His familiarity with Kubiak's offensive scheme could give him an edge in the quarterback competition.

The takeaway

Cousins' decision to join the Raiders was driven by more than just the contract, as he was enticed by the opportunity to reunite with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, with whom he had success in the past. This could give Cousins an advantage in the competition for the starting QB job and help provide a much-needed boost to the Raiders' offense.