It's always been an interesting aspect of the NFL and the other major North American Sports, but it's more prevalent in the NFL: a coach can be hired for another gig with another team while still coaching playoff games and such with his current team. This is what Klint Kubiak is currently doing ahead of the upcoming Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots Super Bowl clash.
Then again, in everyday life — in "normal" jobs — people get hired elsewhere but have to finish out their time at their current job first, which, I guess, is normal. But it's still an odd part of the NFL; it's a weird component of coaching. Nevertheless, Kubiak is prepping for a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, while the Las Vegas Raiders await his arrival.
So while Kubiak prepares for the biggest game of his football coaching career, and with a move to Las Vegas expected to be just around the corner, where is Kubiak's head at? Well, Seahawks fans might be wondering this, but rest assured, Kubiak is right where he should be mentally, and he let them know in full confidence so that no member of The 12's should worry.
Klint Kubiak is fully dedicated to the Seattle Seahawks' game plan against the Patriots, and nothing else
Kubiak is expected to be named the new head coach of the Raiders, a team that has failed to maintain a steady coach for several years. Kubiak is about to take on a team facing three division opponents expected to be good-to-very-good teams next year, not to mention the AFC is touted as the toughest division in football.
Kubiak won't have it easy, but if the Raiders do draft Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana — and the expectation and prediction is that they will — Kubiak will at least have a talented quarterback with significant upside to work with.
That being said, all of that is next season's job. Today, this week, Kubiak's quarterback is Sam Darnold, and preparing Darnold to play at his absolute best is what Kubiak is focused on, as well as the offensive game plan that will hopefully result in a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. Kubiak was asked on Monday's Super Bowl media night about his new job and his current one, which is still in progress.
“I’m all in on the Seahawks. I’m all in on this game,” Kubiak said. “I'm just focusing on playing this game and coaching this game. Been working my whole life to get to coach in this game, and that's where our focus is.”
For Seahawks fans hoping to get into the headspace of the coach who's already slated to leave soon, Kubiak's words should bring some sense of calm and relief. The Seahawks are about to play in their biggest game as a franchise since they lost Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. That game is famous for the mistake that cost Seattle the chance to go back-to-back as champions.
Even all these years later, the goal-line interception still kills the hearts of The 12's. This Seahawks team is better than that 2015 team, and that's saying a lot. Kubiak isn't about to make a mistake like that, or at least, we should hope not. Kubiak's new coaching opportunity is based on his success in Seattle this year, and he's not looking to go out on a sour note.