INDIANAPOLIS — In a 20-minute media session at the NFL scouting combine, new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak disclosed several significant plans for his team. He announced a switch to a base 3-4 defense under coordinator Rob Leonard, confirmed the addition of a fullback, and hinted at seeking a complementary running back to lighten Ashton Jeanty’s load.
Yet the most telling moment came when Kubiak declined to answer a straightforward question: What identity does he want his team to have?
“That’s something that’s really important for me to share with our team when we get together for the first time,” Kubiak said. “I don’t want them to have to read about what our identity is going to be. Those are some discussions that will be really important to address with the team Day 1.”
Kubiak acknowledged he knew the question was coming. Rather than offer a cliché like “tough, physical and smart,” he chose silence, explaining that the answer belongs first to his players.
The decision underscores Kubiak’s relationship-first approach, a trait former players often praise. Whether that translates to wins remains to be seen, but the sincerity of the moment was unmistakable.
