Denver Broncos: Gary Kubiak should be remembered as key figure in team history
After 36 total seasons as a player and coach, Gary Kubiak has called it a career.
Kubiak announced his decision on Thursday. Though his final two seasons came as a member of the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff, Kubiak will be remembered most for what he did with the Denver Broncos.
An eighth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 1983, Kubiak was actually chosen in the same draft as John Elway. He would go on to serve as his backup for the next nine seasons, playing in a handful of games along the way.
He was never on the field enough to post big numbers, but he was instrumental as a backup quarterback that helped with film study and getting Elway ready for games. That helped translate into his coaching career, which began right after his playing days were over.
He came back to Denver in 1995 as part of Mike Shanahan’s staff and eventually became the offensive coordinator.
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In 2006, he was hired by the Houston Texans as their head coach. He was there for eight seasons. After a year with the Baltimore Ravens as their offensive coordinator, he was chosen as the man to succeed John Fox as head coach of the Broncos.
In his first season at the helm, he helped guide the Broncos to a victory in Super Bowl 50.
Kubiak would leave following the 2018 season, but he will always be a member of the Broncos. Of his 36 combined seasons, 24 were spent in Denver.
For his efforts, Kubiak should not only be remembered, but rewarded for his contributions to the franchise. You can’t write the story of the Broncos without talking about Kubiak.
He understood the game well, always settled into his role and was a tremendous offensive mind. The Broncos should eventually put him in the team’s Ring of Fame.
Farewell, Gary! We would like to wish you well in your retirement and give a hearty thank you for what you did for the Broncos.