Gary Kubiak is one of the most storied men in Denver Broncos history.
He was a player, from 1983-1991, the team’s offensive coordinator from 1995-2005 and then as a Super Bowl winning head coach in 2015. Kubiak was the head man in the Mile High City for one more season before he stepped away from the game — somewhat suddenly — at the end of 2016.
After taking six months off, Kubiak came back to the Broncos in a Senior Personnel Advisor position, and on Friday he explained to the Minnesota Vikings’ press what that job looked like.
“You know what I really did? Two years ago (2017) I worked from home, actually, worked from my farm,” Kubiak said in his presser on Friday. “Evaluated all the college players. Last year, I was back in the building, I was in the building full-time. I watched practice every day, I evaluated all the college players coming out of this year’s draft. I was kind of way ahead from that standpoint. So, I was involved that way on a daily basis.”
Unfortunately for Denver, they’ll miss out on all that knowledge “Kubee” amassed as this 2019 NFL draft rapidly approaches. They’ll also miss his competitive fire, desire to win and his vast understanding of the game.
When he did come back to the Broncos, it was only a matter of time before he knew he wanted to be even more involved. That didn’t fit in the Mile High City, so, he found a new home in Minnesota.
“After doing the personnel a couple of years in Denver, I knew I wanted to do some more,” Kubiak continued. “When I stepped away from football a couple years ago, I kept working but I found myself wanting to do some more.
“As things went on, they (Denver) had their direction,” Kubiak explained. “I mean, John (Elway) made a great hire in Vic (Fangio). I mean, what a tremendously qualified man. So, we talked a bit. And I made a decision, ‘Hey, I’m going to get out there, go a little bit longer and try to win a few more games.'”
Remember, Kubiak was rumored by national and local media to be the next offensive coordinator under Fangio, but that quickly disintegrated due to reported disagreements in terms of offensive scheme and personnel decisions.
So, Kubiak and the Broncos split ways as he was hired by the Vikings to be assistant head coach and an offensive advisor. He joins long-time friend and another former Broncos player and coach in Rick Dennison, who is the offensive line coach and run game coordinators, while his son Klint Kubiak is Minnesota’s QB’s coach.
Kubiak will have a chance to get some revenge on Elway and the Broncos this season as Denver travels to Minnesota as part of playing the NFC Norris Division. The date of that game is yet to be finalized.