It's a big night for the Raiders first time head coach Klint Kubiak. Not only will it be the first time he will take the sideline as a head coach in the NFL, but because he will do so pulling double duty.
The well-respected offensive mind has held the offensive coordinator job for three seasons in the NFL. This includes a single season in Seattle in 2025 when he helped guide the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win.
But being the architect is a lot different than also taking on the duties of the contractor. And tonight, he will take on both jobs simultaneously for the first time in his career.
"I think it'll be baptism by fire," Kubiak said of Thursday night's preseason opener. "I'll be finding out pretty quick what it's all about."
Plenty of head coaches
in the NFL also call plays from the sideline. Some can handle it well, some can't. Managing the game at the same time is where it gets tricky. For that, he will lean on his knowledge of the game from growing up with his father Gary Kubiak being a longtime NFL coach, including ten years as a head coach. He will also lean on the experience of several of the seasoned coaches on his staff.
"I'm not doing it alone," Kubiak continued. "Never called a game by myself. We do it with the whole offensive staff, relying on the defensive staff, on coach Joe DeCamillis, on special teams. Every NFL game takes the whole staff and all the players. So, I will not be on my own, but I'll definitely have a lot to learn real fast."
Obviously, not much is on the line in this game. This isn't just preseason for the players. It's for the coaches too. And this is the first of three chances Kubiak and his staff will have to work out the kinks before the games count.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders preseason opener 'baptism by fire' for new HC Klint Kubiak
