DENVER — In what players described as an emotional scene after the Denver Broncos ‘ 24-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, coach Gary Kubiak told his team he was stepping down for health reasons.
Kubiak had told a small, tight-knit group of team officials earlier in the week, but he did not tell the team’s players or coaching staff until after Sunday’s regular-season finale. Following the game, many players lined up to hug Kubiak as he went around the locker room.
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Gary Kubiak, who is expected to step down, won three Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and certainly casts a large shadow for the next coach.
In his third search for a head coach, John Elway likely will consider some familiar names, including Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Here’s everything you need to know about the head-coach openings throughout the NFL.
\u00ab\u00a0There some emotion — I’ve got a lot invested in this place,\u00a0\u00bb Kubiak said. \u00ab\u00a0You guys know how much I love this place.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0It’s definitely sad to see him go — we won the Super Bowl with him,\u00a0\u00bb said cornerback Chris Harris Jr. \u00ab\u00a0It’s just sad to see him go.\u00a0\u00bb
Kubiak has spent 22 years with the Broncos, including his nine years as a player, 11 years as the offensive coordinator on Mike Shanahan’s staff and the last two seasons as head coach. Kubiak went 21-11 in those two seasons with a win in Super Bowl 50 last February.
Kubiak has been on the team’s coaching staff for all three of the franchise’s Super Bowl wins. He held back his plans all through the week, and players and coaches arriving before Sunday’s game against the Raiders said Kubiak had not let on in the team meeting Saturday night.
Kubiak was asked after the win over the Raiders to specifically address his plans, but he deferred to Monday.
\u00ab\u00a0I did talk to the team, right now … I’ll address my situation [Monday], but I had a real good moment with the players and told them how proud I was of them,\u00a0\u00bb Kubiak said. \u00ab\u00a0I’ll address everything else [Monday]… It’s about the football team right now — it’s not about me.\u00a0\u00bb
Moments later, Kubiak did allow that \u00ab\u00a0I struggled this year.\u00a0\u00bb The Broncos were 7-3 at their bye week but lost a Week 12 game to the Kansas City Chiefs as they went 2-4 down the stretch to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
\u00ab\u00a0The first thing I really thought about … if it was true, it was probably his health,\u00a0\u00bb said Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. \u00ab\u00a0He had some issues this year, but it was an emotional moment.\u00a0\u00bb
Kubiak had spent a night in the hospital after the Broncos’ Oct. 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and left the stadium that night in an ambulance. Kubiak was diagnosed with a \u00ab\u00a0complex migraine condition\u00a0\u00bb and was away from the team for a week following his hospital stay and did not coach the team in its Oct. 13 game in San Diego.
Kubiak has said multiple times since he was trying to improve his sleep habits and had consistently deflected health questions in the weeks that followed. Kubiak also suffered what was called a \u00ab\u00a0mini-stroke\u00a0\u00bb in 2014 when he was the Houston Texans ‘ coach.
Even as recently as Friday, Kubiak was asked about his plans for next season and acted as if he felt good enough to coach in 2017, but he stopped short of definitively saying he would do it.
\u00ab\u00a0Why? Do I look bad?\u00a0\u00bb Kubiak said Friday with a smile when asked about the 2017 season. \u00ab\u00a0You guys know, I love this league, I love the Broncos, I love the work. I’m all-in on the Raiders right now. There will be time for reflection and all that stuff next week.\u00a0\u00bb
As the clock wound down in Sunday’s win for the Broncos, the crowd inside the stadium chanted \u00ab\u00a0Ga-ry, Ga-ry\u00a0\u00bb over and over. He has been a popular figure with the team as a player, a trusted assistant and a championship-winning coach.
\u00ab\u00a0Everybody was shocked and didn’t believe it,\u00a0\u00bb Harris said. \u00ab\u00a0… It’s hard to leave a job when it’s your dream job.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0We love Kubes, we love the way he treated us,\u00a0\u00bb said cornerback Aqib Talib. \u00ab\u00a0… I’m praying that he gets healthy.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

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