Okay, I know what you’re thinking, how on Earth could Gary Kubiak, a monolith among the coaching greats in Denver Broncos history be unheralded? I mean, he did win three Super Bowls with the Broncos, two as an offensive coordinator and another as head coach in 2015. Really, with the exception of the Super Bowl in New York and Super Bowl XII, Kubiak has been in, as a player, or around every Super Bowl, as coordinator or coach.
So what about Kubiak the player? Gary was selected with the 197th pick in
the 8th round of the 1983 draft. When John Elway joined him as the other quarterback from the 1983 just days after being drafted and traded by the Colts, he had no way of knowing how intertwined their careers would become.
Kubiak served as Elway’s backup for 9 seasons, appearing in 119 regular season games, going 3-2 as an injury replacement starter. Completing 173 out of 298 passes with 14 touchdowns, 1,920 yards, and just 16 interceptions, Gary was the reliable stalwart behind Denver’s golden-armed rifleman.
For most folks, that kind of career would have been enough, but not for Gary. Following his player stint with Denver, Kubiak coached his alma mater of Texas A&M, and won a Super Bowl as the 49ers quarterbacks coach under offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan. When Shanahan left San Francisco to become Denver’s head coach in 1995, Kubiak went with him.
Then there’s the back-to-back Super Bowl victories he helped engineer to conclude John Elway’s glorious career. Although, Denver wouldn’t make it back to another Super Bowl with Kubiak as an assistant, it was his steady offensive-minded brain that oversaw a terrific run to the AFC Championship in 2005 with Jake Plummer.
In 2006, Kubiak left Denver to become the head coach for the Houston Texans. He did the best with what he had, which wasn’t enough, and managed a 61-64 record. He was fired a month after collapsing on the sideline and being rushed to the hospital with just three games to go. Looking at it through the lens of time, one can’t help but feel like they did him pretty dirty to not let him finish a meaningless season, especially after a significant health scare.
A brief stint as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator in 2014 was little more than a prelude to the magic that would unfold in 2015 when he was named head coach by Broncos general manager, John Elway. Although, few in Broncos Country would dispute the impact Kubiak had on that Super Bowl season with Peyton Manning, it’s odd that Kubiak hasn’t been more celebrated for his loyalty and accomplishments in Denver.
Gary Kubiak became eligible for Ring of Fame induction on January 1, 2026. You would be hard-pressed to find a more deserving and dedicated player, coordinator, or coach to canonize in the annals of Broncos history. He was a part of 6 Broncos Super Bowl appearances and helped convert 3 into championships. The Broncos have yet to announce this year’s Ring of Fame inductee(s) and while it’s possible that nobody gets the honor, it’s impossible not to see Gary Kubiak and his contributions in the landscape of Broncos legends.
There’s no time like the present to give this unheralded Bronco his due. It’s time to put Gary Kubiak into the Ring of Fame.
