Gary Kubiak

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kubiak's connection to the Broncos runs deep, beginning with his selection in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL draft as the 197th overall pick. He spent nine seasons (1983–1991) as the backup to Hall of Famer John Elway, appearing in 119 regular-season games and starting three times with a 3–2 record. He was inactive for Super Bowl XXI but did play in Super Bowl XXIV as the backup quarterback, though he did not attempt a pass. Later, he returned to Denver from 1995 to 2005 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. During this span, the team amassed 66,501 total yards and 465 touchdowns, though these totals did not lead the NFL. He helped guide the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles (1997, 1998) while coaching 14 different Pro Bowlers, including 1998 MVP Terrell Davis.

In Their Own Story

The path from player to champion head coach was paved with specific turning points and health scares. In his first season as Texans head coach in 2006, Kubiak faced a 6–10 start, but by 2009, he led the franchise to its first winning season at 9–7, overcoming a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit against the New England Patriots. His tenure in Houston ended abruptly on November 3, 2013, when he collapsed walking off the field during halftime against the Indianapolis Colts; an NFL report confirmed he suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips assumed head-coaching duties for the remainder of that game and was later named interim head coach after Kubiak's firing on December 6. Despite this, Kubiak returned to Denver in 2015 as head coach, winning Super Bowl 50 before stepping down.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Kubiak’s specific milestones with the Broncos, his timeline is defined by three distinct eras: player, assistant/coordinator, and head coach. As a player (1983–1991), he was part of three AFC Championship teams but lost two Super Bowls. His assistant coaching era (1995–2005) produced the franchise’s most prolific offensive statistics in a single decade and two championships. Finally, his head coaching run (2015–2016) added a third ring as the coach of the winning team in Super Bowl 50. His overall record with the Broncos is a mix of player losses in the Super Bowl and victories as an assistant and head coach. Notably, he was the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 before returning to Denver.

Did You Know?

• Kubiak was the backup to John Elway for nine seasons, completing 173-of-298 passes for 1,920 yards and a 58.1% completion rate.
• He was inactive for Super Bowl XXI but played in Super Bowl XXIV as the backup quarterback, though he did not attempt a pass.
• During his 11 seasons as offensive coordinator (1995–2005), the Broncos amassed 66,501 total yards and 465 touchdowns, though these totals did not lead the NFL.
• Kubiak collapsed on November 3, 2013, while serving as Texans head coach, suffering a transient ischemic attack (TIA) before being fired in December of that year.
• He won Super Bowl 50 as the Broncos' head coach after previously winning two Super Bowls as an assistant coach with the Broncos.