Gary Kubiak will not return to an offensive coordinator role in 2019. Instead, he will take a job with the Vikings as an offensive advisor, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
He was linked to a Minnesota role earlier Monday, and his son’s new position likely played a key role. Klint Kubiak is expected to become the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach, Schefter reports.
This will be Gary Kubiak’s first time on the sidelines in a non-HC role since he was the 2014 Ravens’ OC. He will undoubtedly help OC Kevin Stefanski, whose first NFL play-calling experience came when he was promoted late this season to his current role.
Stefanski is close with Klint Kubiak, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). They worked together when Klint was part of the Vikings’ staffs in 2013-14 as a quality control coach. Gary Kubiak once wanted to bring Stefanski to Denver, per Schefter (on Twitter), but they will pair up in Minneapolis instead.
This also represents a key turning point on the 2019 coaching carousel. Less than a week ago, Kubiak was expected to return to the Broncos’ coaching staff as their offensive coordinator, teaming with new HC Vic Fangio. But conflicts, centering around personnel, scuttled that move. And it will end up sending Kubiak out of Denver, where he held his “dream job” and became a Super Bowl-winning coach.
Interestingly, the two assistants Kubiak reportedly wanted to bring back to Denver, per 9News’ Mike Klis, will follow him to Minnesota. Former Broncos OC Rick Dennison and ex-Denver tight ends coach Brian Pariani will be part of the Vikings’ staff next season, Alex Marvez of Sirius XM tweets, adding that Kubiak’s title is expected to be something along the lines of “assistant head coach/offense.” With Kubiak influencing staff moves to this degree, it looks like he is going to have a key voice for how the Vikings proceed next season. And the Vikings’ 2019 offensive staff will look a lot like the 2016 Broncos’ did.
These moves may well be based around Kirk Cousins. Mike Shanahan drafted Cousins and championed him as a future starter, though Cousins’ time realizing his former coach’s vision came under Jay Gruden. But Shanahan and Kubiak feature nearly identical offensive systems, making Kubiak-to-Minnesota a natural fit.
At 31, Klint Kubiak is a few months older than Cousins. He worked with quarterbacks in Denver for the past three seasons, the first under his father and most recent two when Gary Kubiak was part of the Broncos’ front office. Dennison served as Kubiak’s Denver OC from 2015-16 but was relieved of that job in Buffalo after the 2017 season. He coached the Jets’ offensive line last season.
Vikings need a financial advisor more than they need an offensive advisor. Spent more than any team and didn’t even make the playoffs. Terrible cap situation going forward so any upgrades will have to be one year rentals until they correct the mess.
The vikes actually have one of the best cap guys in the league. Because they spent and it didn’t work this year doesn’t mean they are doomed next year. There are ways to get back into fa.
I like how spending on Cousins (on a short-term deal) means we just overspend all of the time..
Did you honestly expect a Super Bowl Ring from a team with both a new OC and a new Quarterback? A new system to learn, new receivers to get used to, and a different (porous) Offensive Line to rely upon. They likely won’t win a thing under Cousins. Look forward to Sloter in 2021 and the other 2018 players still around.
Did the NFL all of a sudden just starting making up positions just for the sake of having people on the payroll? See Hue Jackson
Does being a coach mean any child born to you get a NFL gig. Good grief. Stop with this nonsense already.
Kubiak probably isn’t the coordinator because he had health problems, but this is a great move for the Vikings. He turned Justin Forsett into a top 5 performing RB when he was the coordinator in Baltimore. This is definitely good news for Dalvin Cook.
Is it though? They’re pretty much saying to their unproven OC, “here’s your replacement.”
Well they said Kubiak wanted to bring Stefanski to Denver and it looks like Kubiak, his son, and Stefanski are more than willing to work together to put together a good gameplan. Kubiak probably can’t take the toll of coaching and traveling week in and week out.
So I doubt he’d replace him if they ended up firing him.