Klint Kubiak is trying to build a new culture with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the first-time head coach believes the roster already possesses one important quality.
It does not contain any “turds.”
“I think we just have a professional group of players,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “They care about getting better. We don’t have any turds—we’ve got guys that want to be here, that want to win, that want to change this place. So, I’m really happy with that.”
The assessment was unconventional, but the sentiment matters for a franchise searching for stability. The Raiders have won only seven games over the past two seasons, including a 3-14 finish in 2025.
Kubiak is also Las Vegas’ fourth full-time head coach since Jon Gruden resigned during the 2021 season. Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll each received opportunities to redirect the franchise before the job eventually reached Kubiak.
His emphasis on professionalism represents an interesting turn for an organization historically celebrated for its outlaw identity. Under Al Davis, the Raiders embraced renegades, castoffs and difficult personalities—as long as they helped the team win.
Kubiak wants the current Raiders to define themselves through their work rather than inherited slogans or carefully chosen buzzwords.
“Words are really just—they’re just words,” Kubiak said. “We watch our tape and we talk about what is acceptable and what is not. What effort looks like, what it doesn’t look like. And then we let the players go set that standard.”
That player-led approach will be tested by a roster blending established veterans with a new generation. Kirk Cousins begins camp as the starting quarterback, while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza develops behind him. Mendoza has embraced that arrangement, saying he wants to learn from Cousins and Aidan O’Connell while doing whatever helps the team win.
Maxx Crosby remains the emotional center of the defense, while Mendoza represents the organization’s long-term future. Kubiak’s challenge is turning those pieces into something more stable than the Raiders have produced in recent years.
Whether the roster is good enough remains unanswered. Kubiak, at least, is confident he has the right people.
