Ed Graney: Raiders' hire could go a long way in aiding Mendoza

Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Feb 17, 2026

Published in Football

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LAS VEGAS — Say this for Klint Kubiak: He sure is making things easier on Fernando Mendoza.

Should the Raiders select the Indiana quarterback with the first overall pick in the NFL draft come April, he won’t lack for coaching and development.

Mike McCoy was hired as the Raiders’ assistant head coach and it’s probably a better position for him then running the entire ship.

He has a career head coaching record of 29-46 with one playoff appearance after leading the San Diego Chargers for four seasons and serving as interim coach for Tennessee over the final 11 games last year.

Yeah. Better as first mate than captain. Nothing wrong with that, especially for what he can now add to the Raiders’ pursuit of a successful rebuild.

He has proven adept at handling quarterbacks in a positive manner. McCoy has gotten production from both veterans and rookies. He has improved them over time.

Such is what Mendoza will need — coaches who have a solid idea of what a young quarterback must have to become competent and perhaps more in the NFL.

Coaches who understand how difficult the transition from college to the pros really is, no matter how successful one was at the former.

And, well, Mendoza was all sorts of successful.

Adapting to player

The Hoosiers went 16-0 en route to their first national championship with Mendoza at the helm, a Heisman Trophy winner whose stellar season put him squarely in line to become that No. 1 selection.

It will be a huge upset at this point if the Raiders don’t take him.

And a huge mistake in the eyes of many.

“(McCoy) is someone capable of adapting to the player,” said Michael Gehlken, who covered the Chargers for the San Diego Union-Tribune when McCoy was coach. “It’s a big part of his calling card. He’s an offensive guy, a quarterback guy.”

Kubiak on Sunday hired Seattle quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko as his offensive coordinator, so how much of a daily hands-on role someone like McCoy would play in tutoring Mendoza is unknown. Maybe not a lot.

But the assistant head coach will be a terrific sounding board when it comes to the position.

His experience can only be a good thing.

And he has plenty of it — 23 years in the NFL ranks.

Philip Rivers in San Diego finished with his three highest single-season completion percentage marks while averaging more than 31 touchdown passes per year under McCoy. The quarterback was the Comeback Player of the Year in 2013.

McCoy, 53, as offensive coordinator in Denver had more success with Tim Tebow than any coach in the NFL, calling plays for the quarterback over 16 starts in 2010 and 2011. The Broncos changed their entire scheme to a read-option attack to better match Tebow’s skill set.

McCoy also adjusted the playbook for Peyton Manning while in Denver.

He played a major role in making Jake Delhomme into a Pro Bowl starter in Carolina, a player who led the Panthers to a Super Bowl.

Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville had consecutive 4,000-yard seasons with McCoy as quarterbacks coach.

He even made strides with rookie Cam Ward last season in Tennessee, despite the team’s 2-9 record under McCoy. Over the last nine games in 2025, Ward had 10 touchdown passes and just one interception.

That’s a whole lot of good with quarterbacks.

Helping Kubiak, too

But perhaps more important than what McCoy could add for Mendoza is how he might be able to aid Kubiak’s development.

“Mike is probably going to be valuable for a quarterback, but also for a young head coach,” Gehlken said. “To have a former head coach, that’s a big deal, and probably part of the reason Mike was brought in there. He can come in and help groom a young quarterback, but also be a north star at times to a first-time head coach. That kind of experience shows up in multiple places.

“I like Mike a lot. He’s a really down-to-earth guy. That’s a really good hire for them … Just keep throwing the ball to Brock Bowers.”

Kubiak. McCoy. Janocko.

It’s a great start for those who will have influence assuming Mendoza is the guy.

Bottom line: The kid won’t lack for coaching and development.

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