Raiders introduce new coach Klint Kubiak with a nod to their storied past

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — They were introduced one by one, six ex-players who represent Raiders royalty. Four Hall of Famers. Five Super Bowl champions. All six at least made the big game.

Three took seats to the left and the other three to the right before new Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak was formally introduced Tuesday and sat with general manager John Spytek in the middle with the club's three Lombardi Trophies in front of them.

Those players — Marcus Allen, Rich Gannon, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Jim Plunkett and Charles Woodson — maintained serious looks on their faces as if kickoff was about to begin. And, in a sense, it was.

Their presence was a reminder of the daunting challenge Kubiak faces in trying to connect the present to the Raiders' long-ago glorious past.

The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since their last Super Bowl appearance in the 2002 season. They have made the postseason just twice since, most recently in the 2021 season. Kubiak will be their fifth full-time coach since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

“This is no ordinary job," said Kubiak, just two days removed from serving as offensive coordinator on the Seahawks' Super Bowl-championship team. “This is the silver and black. This is the Raiders. This is a historic franchise. So when the opportunity came up to stay in Seattle and continue there or to have a chance to come here and compete with this organization, it was a no-brainer.”

Kubiak acknowledged the task in front of him, but will take a day to bask in the Super Bowl parade on Wednesday in Seattle.

Then he will have a number of issues to confront, including hiring a coaching staff — most notably offensive and defensive coordinators. He also will begin to dig into what to do with the No. 1 overall draft pick the Raiders own, as well as the more than $91 million in salary-cap space, according to overthecap.com. And then there's the Maxx Crosby situation.

Kubiak said he was just getting started when it comes to hiring his assistants as well as examining the roster needs. He stopped far short of saying the Raiders will draft Fernando Mendoza, even though it's widely believed Las Vegas will take the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who guided Indiana to a highly unlikely national championship.

Owner Mark Davis watched Mendoza that night in Miami Gardens, Florida, and was joined by Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady. Davis hinted the organization was taking a strong look at Mendoza, and the Raiders preferred to hire a coach with an offensive background "that could grow with somebody."

“It started being, in my mind, that's the direction we wanted to go,” Davis said. "But at the same time, he had to win the job because there were some good candidates that we spoke to.”

One big selling point was Kubiak's work with quarterback Sam Darnold.

Darnold completed 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season. Drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold was considered a bust until leading Minnesota to a 14-win season in 2024. Then came another 14-win season with the Seahawks that culminated with Darnold hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

“I’m really proud of the process that we put in place," Spytek said. “We set out to take our time, to be deliberate, to be meticulous, to find the right leader for this organization going forward. We have a uniquely challenging offseason with the first overall pick and new leadership with the head coach, but that’s why it was so important to us to find the right man to lead this organization forward.”

The elephant that wasn't in the room during the presser was Crosby. Multiple reports have said the star pass rusher wants out of the Raiders after being sidelined the final two games this past season and that he also wasn't interested in a rebuild.

But Crosby, even if he wasn't in the team room for the news conference, was in the building and among the Raiders to greet Kubiak upon his arrival. They even had coffee together.

“We want him to be a part of our success going forward,” Kubiak said. "There’s no doubt about that. He’s one of the best players in the NFL, so that’s a no brainer to get to work with Maxx and see him continue to have success with this organization.”

Davis said he definitely wanted to keep Crosby in Las Vegas.

“Maxx has been a great, great Raider,” Davis said. “He is a great Raider.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis looks during a news conference introducing the Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the NFL football team's training facility in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty looks on during a news conference introducing new head coach Klint Kubiak, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the NFL football team's training facility in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and general manger John Spytek attend an introductory news conference at the NFL football team's training facility in Henderson, Nev., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak speaks during an introductory news conference at the NFL football team's training facility Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak, fourth from left, poses with from left, Marcus Allen, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Jim Plunkett, general manager John Spytek and Charles Woodson during an introductory news conference at the NFL football team's training facility Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale joined the Athletics on Tuesday, agreeing to a $6 million, one-year contract.

The 30-year-old Civale can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He is expected to start with the A's.

The team also signed reliever Scott Barlow to a one-year deal. To open space on the 40-man roster, right-handers Grant Holman and Mitch Spence were designated for assignment.

Civale pitched for three teams last year, going 4-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 18 starts and five relief appearances. He is 43-44 with a 4.14 ERA in 140 career games.

He had a 4.91 ERA in five starts for Milwaukee last season before he was shifted to the bullpen. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox for first baseman Andrew Vaughn and $807,000 in cash on June 13.

Civale was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 31. He went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and his first career save in five relief appearances with the Cubs. He also pitched in one postseason game with the team, working 4 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NL Division Series at Milwaukee.

Barlow was 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA and one save in 75 games with Cincinnati last season. He struck out 75 batters and walked 45 in 68 1/3 innings.

The 33-year-old right-hander is 29-24 with a 3.60 ERA and 59 saves in eight big league seasons with Kansas City (2018-23), San Diego (2023), Cleveland (2024) and Cincinnati (2025).

A's pitchers and catchers are scheduled to have their first spring training workout on Wednesday. The team’s first full-squad workout is Monday.

The A's went 76-86 in 2025 for the franchise's fourth consecutive losing season. They are beginning the second of at least three seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California. They are scheduled to move to Las Vegas and play in a $2 billion 33,000-person capacity stadium beginning in 2028.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Chicago Cubs pitcher Aaron Civale delivers in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard, File)