LAS VEGAS — The confetti from Super Bowl LX has barely been swept off the floor, but Klint Kubiak isn’t taking a vacation. Less than 72 hours after orchestrating the Seattle Seahawks’ offense in their 29-13 demolition of the New England Patriots, the new Las Vegas Raiders head coach touched down in Henderson with a clear message for his rising star, Ashton Jeanty: The honeymoon is over.
“We Gotta Get the Line on the Same Page”
Kubiak’s introductory press conference wasn’t just pleasantries and photo ops. When asked about Jeanty the Raiders’ sophomore sensation who just wrapped up a historic rookie campaign Kubiak didn’t just offer empty praise. He challenged the entire building.
“Very excited about his talent,” Kubiak said, leaning into the mic. “But what I would tell him and all his teammates is it’s not about one guy. We gotta get the line on the same page, we gotta get our QB to get the right run checks, we gotta get our receivers to block for him, so we can get the play-action going.”
This isn’t just coach-speak. Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl run where Kenneth Walker III bulldozed his way to MVP honors, not by playing hero ball, but by trusting a Shanahan-style zone scheme that demands discipline over flash. Kubiak wants that same DNA in Vegas.
A Historic Rookie Year (But Is It Enough?)
Jeanty’s rookie numbers are nothing to sneeze at. The former Boise State phenom entered the league with a Doak Walker Award on his shelf and immediately translated that dominance to the NFL. In Year 1, he shattered the franchise rookie scrimmage record previously held by Josh Jacobs.
Jeanty’s Rookie Report Card (2025)
- Total Scrimmage Yards: 1,321 (Franchise Rookie Record)
- Rushing Yards: 975
- Receiving Yards: 346
- Total Touchdowns: 10 (5 Rush, 5 Rec)
Despite the individual accolades, the Raiders’ offense often looked disjointed last season. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to point out the skepticism surrounding the new scheme fit. One user posted, “I can take one look at this guy and tell you this is not gonna work,” while another worried Kubiak might be “trading for Zach Charbonnet.”
“As soon as our players can realize it’s a team thing, not an individual thing, we will be successful.” — Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach
The “Mendoza” Factor & What’s Next
The elephant in the room is the quarterback position. Kubiak mentioned getting the QB to make the “right run checks,” but who is that QB? With the Raiders holding the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 Draft, all eyes are on Indiana’s Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
If Vegas pairs a rookie signal-caller with Jeanty, Kubiak’s emphasis on “play-action” becomes the season’s lifeline. Jeanty won’t just be asked to run; he’ll be the safety valve for a young QB and the engine of a play-action game that just won a Super Bowl in Seattle.
The Verdict: Kubiak isn’t here to pamper a star; he’s here to build a machine. Jeanty proved he can be a solitaire powerhouse. Now, he has to prove he can be the engine of a championship Ferrari.
