Tag: Klint Kubiak

Report: If Vikings OC Gary Kubiak retires, Hue Jackson and Klint Kubiak will get looks

The Minnesota Vikings may have an opening at offensive coordinator this offseason. Hue Jackson and Klint Kubiak will reportedly get looks if so.

The Vikings have had five different offensive coordinators during the Mike Zimmer era and the team may have to make it six this offseason.

That’s because current Minnesota offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is leaning towards retirement, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported what they were hearing about the latest openings across the league, and the Vikings’ potentially open offensive coordinator spot came up. Here’s what the two wrote:

“One note for the assistant coaching carousel: Don’t be surprised if Mike Zimmer at least talks to old friend Hue Jackson for the Vikings’ offensive coordinator job if Gary Kubiak retires. ‘[Kubiak is] taking some time to mentally think about the season and where he’s at healthwise, and he’ll decide what he wants to do,’ Zimmer said Tuesday.

Jackson is hoping to get back into coaching. Vikings quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak, Gary’s son, has done good work with Kirk Cousins and would also get a look.”

Neither of these candidates are very shocking. Kubiak would be a sign of continuity and Jackson is a well-established coach whom Zimmer is familiar with. I think either would be a decent choice.

Report: Gary Kubiak to be Vikings’ next offensive coordinator

In not totally unexpected news, the Vikings will name Gary Kubiak as their next offensive coordinator, via Ian Rapoport.

In not totally unexpected news, the Vikings will name Gary Kubiak as their next offensive coordinator, via Ian Rapoport.

Kubiak fills the role that Kevin Stefanski, now the coach of the Browns, held last season. The 2019 season was the first for Kubiak in Minnesota, and he helped shift Minnesota’s offense to a zone-blocking scheme and that led to a breakout season for running back Dalvin Cook. Kubiak’s official title was an offensive advisor.

The two options for this position, at least internally, seemed to be Kubiak or his son, Klint Kubiak, who served as quarterbacks coach last season for the team.

This will be Kubiak’s third stint as an offensive coordinator. He spent 1995-2005 with the Broncos and 2014 with the Ravens. He also served as head coach for the Texans for eight seasons and the Broncos from 2015-16, winning the 2015 Super Bowl championship.

The next step will be to get Kubiak some more talent on the offense. There’s Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, but this team badly needs a third receiver and some help on the offensive line.

Feels like Vikings offensive coordinator will come internally

With Kevin Stefanski heading to Cleveland, the Vikings are yet again searching for an offensive coordinator.

With Kevin Stefanski heading to Cleveland to be the next head coach of the Browns, the Vikings are yet again searching for an offensive coordinator.

On Monday, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters that he wants to stick with the same type of system (zone-based) in 2020.

While it’s always fun and exciting to get a new person in the doors, it feels like this hire is going to be internal. The obvious choices right now appear to be Gary Kubiak, Klint Kubiak or Rick Dennison.

The elder Kubiak served as the team’s offensive advisor last season and is the brains behind most of the team’s offensive identity. The younger Kubiak was the team’s quarterbacks coach last season, while Dennison was the team’s offensive line coach.

The Vikings offense had its problems in 2019, but that seemed more because of lack of talent on the offensive line and depth at wide receiver rather than the overall scheme and philosophy.

While hiring externally might be a sexy move, remember the last time Minnesota did that it hired John DeFilippo. That experiment lasted just 13 games.

Gary Kubiak doesn’t have ‘the itch’ to return as a head coach

Kubiak served as an NFL coach for 10 seasons, eight with the Houston Texans and two with the Denver Broncos.

Gary Kubiak is with the Vikings this season, serving as an offensive advisor.

It was a major addition for this team over the offseason.

Kubiak served as an NFL coach for 10 seasons, eight with the Houston Texans and two with the Denver Broncos. Kubiak totalled a 82-75 record. His 2015 Denver Broncos team won the Super Bowl.

Kubiak was last head coach in 2016 when his Broncos went 9-7.

So, now that he’s with the Vikings, playing a pretty big role, does he feel the urge to get back into the game as a head coach?

Not so much, per Chad Graff of The Athletic.

Kubiak, 58, has had some health issues that have hindered his ability to coach, so health wise, this is probably the right move.

Earlier this season, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer called getting Kubiak on the coaching staff one of the best things that have happened to him since taking over.

Kubiak, along with offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, has the Vikings rankek eighth in points scored and ninth in total yards.

Kubiak’s son, Klint, is the team’s quarterbacks coach.