ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – After nearly four decades in the NFL as a player and coach, Gary Kubiak, former former head coach of the Super Bowl, has retired.
Kubiak served as the Vikings’ attacking coordinator / assistant head coach in 2020 after serving as the head coach and offensive adviser in 2019.
The only individual to have played and coached for the Broncos and worked in the team’s front office, Kubiak served as Denver’s head coach in 2015-16 and led the team to a Super Bowl 50 title.
“It was the honor of my lifetime to work 36 seasons as an NFL player and coach,” Kubiak said in a statement. ‘I’ve been on a soccer field most of my life and look forward to stepping out of the game and enjoying more time with my family and friends.
“I truly thank the owners and fans of the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this amazing game and treating me and my family so well over the years. .
“I will miss the competition, the planning, the playing days and the sharing of a team. But more than anything, I will cherish the friendships I have made along the way with players, coaches and staff. I love the game of football and will be its biggest supporter forever. ‘
In the Broncos’ 2015 championship season, Kubiak helped Denver to a record of 12-4 and the number one seeded on nine wins by seven points or less (a total that grew to 11 in the post-season). Denver also recorded three wins of at least 14 points against playoff games, the most in a single season by an organization in NFL history.
Hall of Famer’s first ballot, Peyton Manning, missed seven times when he struggled with a mid-season injury, but Kubiak helped Brock Osweiler and the Broncos won five of the seven games.
Kubiak set a leading 24-11 record in his two seasons – including the national season – and no coach in franchise history has scored more victories in his first two seasons. In his first season with the team, he became only the fourth coach in NFL history to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory.
“The Denver Broncos congratulate Gary Kubiak on an incredible 36-year career in the NFL,” said President / CEO Joe Ellis. “Few people have influenced one team in more ways than Gary during his 24 seasons with the Broncos. As part of six Super Bowl games – including three wins – with the Broncos as player, assistant coach, head coach and personnel manager, Gary will always has a special place in our championship history, he is an excellent coach who did a masterful job of making us win in Super Bowl 50, and that season deftly navigated with tremendous instincts and felt every step of the way. the Broncos, we wish Gary all the best with his retirement. We also acknowledge his wife, Rhonda, and thank her for her unwavering support of our organization during Gary’s time with the Broncos.
Kubiak retired in January 2017 as the coach of the team after a health scare in the 2016 season – which was later diagnosed as a complex migraine condition – requiring him to miss a game against the Chargers.