Raiders accomplish insane feat not seen since Vince Lombardi 67 years ago

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The Raiders made history on Sunday.

After Las Vegas defeated the Saints 35-27, the Raiders became the second team in NFL history to start a season 3-0 with a rookie head coach after having made the No. 1 overall pick in the most recent draft, according to OptaSTATS.

The only other team to achieve the feat was the 1959 Packers behind Vince Lombardi.

Head coach Klint Kubiak of the Las Vegas Raiders walks off the field, arms outstretched, after defeating the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. — Head coach Klint Kubiak of the Las Vegas Raiders walks off the field after defeating the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Getty Images

The @Raiders are the second team in NFL history to start a season 3-0 with a rookie head coach and having made the No. 1 overall pick in the most recent draft.

The other was the 1959 Packers behind Vince Lombardi. pic.twitter.com/07JpUCe54Z

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 28, 2026

Head coach Klint Kubiak has infused new life into a franchise that has struggled for decades. While the Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza No.1 overall, the organization hopes to keep the Indiana product watching from the sidelines as a long as possible.

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has exceeded expectations and will continue to retain the starting spot as long as he performs at a high level.

The Raiders are undefeated heading into Week 4 and are coming off an impressive win over the Saints on the road. But their biggest test of the season will be their upcoming divisional matchup against the Chiefs.

While it’s already a feat for Las Vegas to open the season 3-0, facing the Chiefs should reveal whether the Raiders can compete with a perennial playoff contender in 2026.