New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak issues blunt Fernando Mendoza comment and reveals Tom Brady plan

Feb 11, 2026 - 09:30

Klint Kubiak has been officially introduced as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, and as he sat down for his first press conference, there was one question on everybody’s mind.

What does he want to do with the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft?

Klint Kubiak speaks as he is introduced as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders during a news conference at Raiders Headquarters — Kubiak gave little away about his draft plans as he was introduced by the Raiders

The Raiders went 3-14 last season, and are in dire need of a quarterback, as the Geno Smith experiment failed miserably in Sin City.

It is widely expected they will draft Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning Indiana Hoosiers signal caller, who led his program to National Championship glory and an undefeated season.

Kubiak, though, refused to give much away in his first meeting with reporters.

Klint Kubiak remains coy on Fernando Mendoza draft decision

When asked to share his thoughts on Mendoza, and how much the young QB played into his own decision to join Las Vegas, the new HC did his best to dodge the question.

“The resources that the Raiders have — this building, having cap space, having the first pick — those all go into the decision,” Kubiak responded, days after it was revealed the team could lose star rusher Maxx Crosby.

“As far as who the first pick is gonna be, we have a lot of tape to watch to before we determine who that’s going to be.

“I’m excited to get into that process.”

Clearly, Kubiak wants to keep his plans for that top pick under wraps for now.

But in a follow up interview with the Raiders, broadcast from the practice facility, he was again asked to share his thoughts on Mendoza, and his observations about the undefeated Hoosiers quarterback.

“My exposure is very limited. I saw him play the National Championship game,” Kubiak said.

Former Las Vegas Raiders players Marcus Allen, Mike Haynes, and Howie Long, Klint Kubiak, former Raiders player Jim Plunkett, Raiders general manager John Spytek, and former Raiders players Charles Woodson and Rich Gannon pose for photos during a news conference introducing Kubiak as the head coach — Kubiak has insisted the 3-14 Raiders are an appealing franchise

Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium — Mendoza is the projected top pick, expected to land in Las Vegas

“I saw the interviews he gave after those games, and how team oriented he is.

“I look forward to getting to know the player better. But obviously he’s a really talented guy with a with a bright future and we will see where he ends up.

“But we have got a lot of work to do to get to know him before before that time comes.”

It will be a real shock if anyone other than Mendoza is called when the first pick of the draft is announced on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

However, there is no reason for anyone within the Raiders organization to show their cards this early, and that is probably why Kubiak remains coy.

He was, though, happy to talk about a different quarterback involved with Las Vegas — seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Tom Brady greet fans prior to the NFL Super Bowl LX football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026 — Kubiak is excited to work with Brady and has opened up on their relationship

The retired NFL legend is a minority Raiders owner, and while it is unclear how much time he will commit to that role in the coming weeks and months, Kubiak plans to lean heavily on him.

Klint Kubiak opens up on Tom Brady relationship

“Really excited to work with Tom,” the new HC revealed, before cracking a joke.

“He made the mistake of giving me his cell phone number, so he might wish he never did that because I’m going to be calling him a lot.

“What I’m excited about is that we really have different offensive backgrounds — how we can pull ideas from each other. But, obviously, he’s the greatest that has ever done it.

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“In the interview process, just the passion that he spoke with on all things football got me excited about the opportunity to work with him.

“So, I know plenty has been said and speculated about how that relationship is going to go. One of the main draws to come here, is to get to work with him, to get to work with ‘Spy’ (GM John Spytek).

“These are great football minds that, if we collaborate the way we are supposed to, we are going to pull the best out of each other.”

It sounds like a new era has dawned in Sin City, and Brady will be a big part of it, alongside Kubiak.

Mendoza, the projected No. 1 draft pick, will almost certainly be there too.

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