In some ways, Mike McCoy used to be Klint Kubiak’s boss. Now, the roles are reverse and the veteran NFL coach is all about it.
McCoy, who has been an NFL coach for 24 seasons and has been a head coach, jumped at the opportunity when Kubiak, a first-time head coach, approached in earlier this offseason about being a Las Vegas Raiders’ assistant head coach and offensive coach.
McCoy and Kubiak worked together with the Denver Broncos in 2017 when McCoy was the offensive coordinator and Kubiak was a young
offensive assistant under McCoy’s guidance. McCoy was also attracted to joining the Silver and Black and spending time in the AFC West for years with Denver and the Chargers, where he was their head coach from 2013-16.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Klint gave me to come and join his staff and work for such a great organization,” McCoy said at the team’s recent mandatory minicamp. “It starts with Mark Davis at the top,
obviously, and just being a Raider is something special. Obviously, been in the division a couple other
places, and I know what it means to play against this organization, to be in this division, but it’s just an
honor and privilege to be a Raider.”
McCoy is happy to be a right-hand-man type for Kubiak as he begins his head-coaching journey. He knows how valauable that role is first hand.
“I was very fortunate in San Diego in 2013 to have Ken Whisenhunt on my staff, and so it was great to have a guy that’s been in your role, and Klint and I have talked a number of times,” McCoy said. “There’s so many things that come across your desk, and sometimes you go, ‘I’ve got to do that?’ or ‘I’ve got to answer that question?’ I mean, yeah, you’re the head coach, and you better answer all those
things. So, I love helping him every day. It’s always something different, but I’m here for him and help him
lead and get the team prepared week in and week out, regardless what the situation is.”
McCoy has been impressed by Kubiak’s approach to taking over as a head coach.
“All Klint wants to do is help this organization win, and that’s his number one
focus. So, he put an unbelievable staff together, and he brought guys in that are going to help him, and
one of the things I think as a head coach, is you want to bring people in that can make maybe a weakness
a strength, and certain guys in certain roles, whether it’s on the offensive staff, the defensive staff, special
teams, my role,“ McCoy said. Certain things that can really help him turn this thing around and get us to a winning tradition, get it back, and then that’s what it’s all about. But, he has a passion for this game. He truly loves doing what he does, comes to work every day, he’s a great leader, and I think you could see that by the
way our players are out there practicing on a daily basis. They’ve done a phenomenal job this offseason. I
think it starts with Klint’s leadership and what the message is on how he wants us to play, how he wants
us to prepare, and what we’re doing.”
