{"id":9528,"date":"2017-01-02T15:39:25","date_gmt":"2017-01-02T20:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=9528"},"modified":"2021-03-20T12:58:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T16:58:58","slug":"gary-kubiak-officially-steps-denver-broncos-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/01\/02\/gary-kubiak-officially-steps-denver-broncos-head-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Gary Kubiak Officially Steps Down as Denver Broncos Head Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Less than a year after beating the Carolina Panthers\u00a0in Super Bowl 50, Gary Kubiak<\/a> officially steps down as the Denver Broncos head coach. During a press conference on Monday morning, a visibly shaken Kubiak said that he was retiring from coaching because the demands of the job had become too tough for him to adequately handle given his health concerns.<\/p>\n

Gary Kubiak Officially Steps Down as Denver Broncos Head Coach<\/h2>\n

Kubiak has dealt with several health issues over the last four seasons, and coupled with the demands of the head coaching position, the one-time backup quarterback to John Elway<\/a>, has decided to step down. Kubiak was forced to miss Denver’s game against the San Diego Chargers on October 13 because of a complex migraine condition. He also suffered a mini-stroke during a game in 2013 as head coach of the Houston Texans.<\/p>\n

During Monday’s press conference, a very emotional Kubiak eluded to the tough demands that an NFL head coach has to contend with.<\/p>\n

“Coaching is a very demanding business,”\u00a0<\/em>Kubiak said. “Tough business. And I’ve always prided myself. You know, I’ve been a head coach for ten years. And each of us as coaches… we all have a routine. We all have a way we go about doing things, and I’ve had my routine for a long time. And I’ve always taken a lot of pride that I could coach a football team, be there for the players, be there for the coaches, be there for the organization, do a game plan, call some plays on Sunday. I’ve always taken a lot of pride in the fact that I could do all those things.<\/em><\/p>\n

“But this year I haven’t been able to do that. It’s been tough. And for the first time I’ve had to tell myself, ‘Hey, you can’t do that anymore'”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In two seasons as the Broncos head coach, Kubiak compiled a record of 24-11 (including postseason). Last season, Kubiak led the Denver Broncos to a 24-10 win in Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. Broncos general manager John Elway said that Kubiak approached him about a week ago, in order to discuss stepping down. Elway also said that Kubiak asked him to have a conversation as his friend, and not his boss.<\/p>\n

“In the long run, it’s the right thing for Gary, and I think that’s the most important thing,”\u00a0<\/em>Elway said.<\/p>\n

Kubiak spent 22 years with the Denver Broncos, which included nine years as the backup quarterback to John Elway from 1983-1991 and 11 years as offensive coordinator under head coach Mike Shannahan<\/strong> from 1995-2005. He was an assistant coach when Elway and the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls from 1997-1998.<\/p>\n

In ten seasons as a head coach, Gary Kubiak compiled a record of 82-75, including going 24-11 in two seasons with the Broncos.<\/p>\n

As far as where the Broncos go now, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network has reported that Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph<\/a> and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shannahan<\/strong> (son of ex-Denver head coach Mike Shannahan) are possible candidates to replace Gary Kubiak.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n