Seahawks' Klint Kubiak focused on Super Bowl, not Raiders job

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Seahawks' Klint Kubiak focused on Super Bowl, not Raiders job

2026-02-03 12:28 Last Updated At：12:40

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said his entire focus this week is on beating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl and not on a future that is expected to see him land a job as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kubiak had his second interview with the Raiders on Saturday and a person with knowledge of the discussions said the two sides are working toward finalizing an agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no contract was in place and no announcement can be made until after the Super Bowl.

“I’m just focusing on playing this game and coaching this game," Kubiak said Monday night. "Been working my whole life to get to coach in this game, and that’s where our focus is.”

Kubiak declined to answer any questions about the search process, including what it was like to interview with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

“That’s another part of another process,” he said. “That is just something I’m not really wanting to talk about tonight. We’re all so focused on this game and our players deserve all of our attention for this game.”

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald seemed resigned to losing Kubiak after the Super Bowl, as well as potentially other assistants who could join him in Las Vegas.

“Our coaches, as they get these opportunities to take it to the next level, you’re happy for them,” Macdonald said.” It’s a little bittersweet because (Kubiak is) such a great person and great coach. ... We have a lot of great coaches and those people are going to have opportunities as well."

Kubiak, 38, would be the third coach in three seasons for the Raiders and fifth full-time leader since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020. He would succeed Pete Carroll, who went 3-14 in one season in Las Vegas after a storied run with Seattle that included two Super Bowl appearances and one championship.

Kubiak likely will be counted on to mold Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to the national championship, into the franchise quarterback the organization has long sought. The Raiders own the top pick in this year’s draft, and they are expected to use that selection on the Heisman Trophy winner.

Brady helped run the search with general manager John Spytek. Brady said he was impressed with Kubiak's offense after calling Seattle's last two playoff games in his role as an analyst on Fox.

“They make one thing look like another thing,” Brady said on an episode of “Let's Go” on Sirius XM. "There’s plays off of plays. I think Klint’s done a great job this season developing his own identity as a play-caller. They run the West Coast offense, that’s what Seattle does. They try to make it quarterback-friendly for Sam. Klint has played to the strengths of that team, and I think he’s, you know, last week’s game I thought he did a lot of great things against a very talented Rams defense.”

It was Kubiak’s work with Sam Darnold that got the Raiders’ attention. Darnold, taken third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL draft, had been considered a bust until leading Minnesota to a 14-win season in 2024. But the Vikings moved on from Darnold, and he proved that season was no fluke, winning 14 games in Seattle en route to making the Super Bowl against New England.

“He’s unbelievable," Darnold said. "He wakes up at insane hours. He gets to the facility at 4–4:30 in the morning, and he’s there later than anyone. He’s a grinder. He loves football. He’s very honest and he’s very forthcoming with his players, which myself and a lot of the guys really appreciate.”

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report

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Mariners acquire All-Star Brendan Donovan from Cardinals in three-team trade with Rays

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Seattle sent infielder Ben Williamson to the Rays, and a pair of minor league prospects to the rebuilding Cardinals: pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje and outfielder Tai Peete.

St. Louis also received a 2026 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick (68th overall) from the Mariners.

Tampa Bay shipped minor league outfielder Colton Ledbetter and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick this year (72nd overall) to the Cardinals.

“We are pleased that, because of this deal, we will add five more promising young players to the talent pipeline that has always fueled this organization’s sustained success,” Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “We believe we’ve added exciting athleticism and upside on both sides of the ball, with more to come in this summer’s draft."

Donovan, 29, was a first-time All-Star last year, when he batted .287 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .775 OPS. Over a four-year major league career, he has hit .282 with 40 homers, 97 doubles and a .772 OPS. He also won a utility player Gold Glove as a rookie in 2022.

“It’s tough to imagine a better fit for our current team than Brendan,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. “His combination of offensive skill, defensive versatility, consistency in performance, baseball instincts, and quality of character line up with what we value most.”

Donovan has a $5.8 million, one-year contract. He is eligible for arbitration again next winter and is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2027 World Series.

He could slot into the middle of the Mariners' batting order in the way Jorge Polanco did last season. Polanco hit 26 homers, then became a free agent and signed a $40 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets.

Donovan has started 202 career games at second base, 139 in left field, 29 at third base and 23 in right field. He was primarily a second baseman for the Cardinals last year, starting 91 games there.

Considering the Mariners parted ways with Williamson and elected not to re-sign Eugenio Suárez, Donovan could make sense for Seattle at third base. Also in the fold is highly regarded shortstop prospect Colt Emerson, who played six games for Triple-A Tacoma last year.

Seattle last season came within one win of the franchise’s first World Series appearance.

To make room for Williamson on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay left-hander Ken Waldichuk was designated for assignment. Williamson hit .253 with one home run and 21 RBIs with above-average defense at third base as a rookie for Seattle last year.

Cijntje and Ledbetter were teammates at Mississippi State in 2023. At the Mariners’ fan fest Sunday at T-Mobile Park, Seattle said the ambidextrous Cijntje was going to focus solely on pitching right-handed going forward rather than with both arms. In a news release announcing the deal, St. Louis listed Cijntje as a right-handed pitcher.

The 22-year-old Cijntje was selected 15th overall by the Mariners in the 2024 amateur draft. He went 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 108 1/3 innings last year in the minors.

Peete, 20, was drafted 30th overall by the Mariners in 2023. Across three seasons in Seattle's farm system, he batted .247 with 28 home runs, 154 RBIs, 76 stolen bases and a .724 OPS in 1,166 plate appearances.

Ledbetter, 24, was chosen by the Rays in the second round of the 2023 draft. He hit .269 with 25 home runs and 126 RBIs in 253 games across three minor league seasons with Tampa Bay.

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