Gary Kubiak plans to retire as Vikings offensive coordinator

USA TODAY Sports

Another year, another search for an offensive coordinator in Minnesota.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak plans to retire.

Kubiak, 59, became assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2020, a year after joining the team as assistant head coach and offensive advisor. He added the coordinator role and title after offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski was hired to coach the Browns.

Stefanski became the coordinator late in the 2018 season, after John DeFilippo was fired during his first season on the job. Before that, Pat Shurmur held the job in 2017 and part of 2016, after Norv Turner resigned during the season.

Kubiak previously retired while coaching the Broncos, leaving a year after winning Super Bowl 50. He served as a senior personnel advisor with Denver in 2017 and 2018 before getting back into coaching. Before joining the Broncos, Kubiak served as head coach of the Texans from 2006 through 2013.

The Vikings will now need yet another offensive coordinator. Whether they will continue the run-centric Kubiak offense or pivot to an attack more premised on the pass remains to be seen.

58 responses to “Gary Kubiak plans to retire as Vikings offensive coordinator

  1. Whomever Zimmer hires as offensive coordinator, he should probably rent rather than buy a house.

  2. The shame and humiliation of another losing Vikings season finally got to this once proud coach.

  3. I could tell something was up this morning during his segment on KFAN, he was thanking the host Paul Allen for his calls and his support etc. Well anybody got any names to throw out there?

  4. Not a vikings fan but personally I like zimmer but Minnesota needs a financial bath and just start all over again. They have good pieces in place but they just seem like a tease, just when you think left they go right.

  5. Why leave now? All the pieces are in place. It ook a year to get everyone comfortable in their roles but now the Vikes are primed to win it all next season.

  6. Surprised Zimmer is not under pressure more. His regular season record is OK but his trips to playoffs and playoff wins is sub par. Especially this year when everyone thought they would be a force in the North.

  7. I guess I just imagined that he was the OC of the Baltimore Ravens before his Broncos gig…

  8. Anthony Lynn worked with Zimmer for 2 years in Dallas. Makes a lot of sense with his run first style too.

  9. I think this explains why Kubiak’s play calling was so conservative. He wants to leave the the NFL and I think this is the best thing to happen. The time to go younger at offensive coordinator is here. Vikings needs to do it. Do not hire another old guy again.

  10. The Vikings are a “running team” because Dalvin Cook is arguably their best offensive weapon. That’s not going to change in 1 year.

  11. Gary Kubiak likes the thought of coaching playoff bound teams. I guess we know how he feels about the Vikings.

  12. That job should be appealing to good offensive coordinators. Can easily have a balanced offense with Cook and Jefferson. Hopefully defense is better next year with key players back from injury.

  13. I’d like to see his son Klint get a crack at the OC gig. He’s 33, he grew up with Kubiak and Shannahan. That more than passes the sniff test, for me..

  14. I guess some of you don’t realize that the Vikings offense was one of the best in the NFL this year.

  15. 2006ravensd says: “He seems to have a very Urban Meyer like tendency to retire on serial basis.”
    —————————

    You do know Kubiak’s has a few serious health issues, including a stroke right after a Texans game and another one after a Broncos game, right?

  16. Do you ever think that maybe working with Mike Zimmer is the reason for coaches leaving? Kubiak seems like a positive, empowering type while Zim is just Zim.

  17. It would be best for Kubiak to retire because Zim wants to move on. His play calling sometimes are just not what Zim wanted. Vikings analysis even said it on kfan that Kubiak should not come back.

  18. It would be best for Kubiak to retire because Zim wants to move on. His play calling sometimes are just not what Zim wanted. Vikings analysis even said it on kfan that Kubiak should not come back. With the talent Vikings have on offense, they would be unstoppable if put in right position and better play call, period.

  19. What about the not-so-special special teams coach? He should have been fired last night!

  20. “Why leave now? All the pieces are in place. It ook a year to get everyone comfortable in their roles but now the Vikes are primed to win it all next season.”
    _________

    If this is sarcasm it’s hilarious. If it isn’t sarcasm it’s even more hilarious.

  21. conormacleod says:
    I guess some of you don’t realize that the Vikings offense was one of the best in the NFL this year.

    —————————

    Yes, the Viking offense was amazing in garbage time and meaningless games. Too bad football doesn’t consist of four quarters of garbage time.

  22. Zimmer is nuts and Kubiak finally figured it out. This is all part of the grand scheme to get the Vikings their 10th straight off season title. They’ll hire somebody that talking heads are in love with who worked with a successful coach (much like Zimmer when he was hired) and there will be the usual buzz around the Vikings. They will then do what MN always does, fail miserably. Their fans will blame the refs, the league, and whoever else they can blame for the Vikings being terrible and being dismal losers. The great part is that it’s completely predictable, it always happens, and it never gets old. The Minnesota Vikings and their fans are the gift that keeps on giving.

  23. terrystown says:
    January 4, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    The Vikings are a “running team” because Dalvin Cook is arguably their best offensive weapon. That’s not going to change in 1 year.
    __________

    Justin Jefferson is their best offensive weapon. They need an OC that can both recognize that and convince Zimmer of it.

  24. mookie34 says:
    January 4, 2021 at 2:36 pm
    Why leave now? All the pieces are in place. It ook a year to get everyone comfortable in their roles but now the Vikes are primed to win it all next season.
    —————————————————————————————————
    Primed to win it all? They went 7-9 and closed out the season barely beating the Lions. Enjoy watching people leave and less quality players brought in during free agency. They’re over the projected cap!

  25. whoever the unfortunate soul is that takes this job, be prepared to be scapegoated and thrown under the bus by Zim…….

  26. If the luckiest team in the NFL hadn’t blatantly benefitted from the absolute worst unnecessary-roughing call I’ve ever seen, Zimmers’ hotseat would be in flames.

  27. Can’t say I’m shocked. Had the feeling he reluctantly took the job just because of Stefanski’s departure last year. Wouldn’t be surprised if he told Zim that early on.

  28. Vikings should redo Cousins contract and giveve him double what he makes now. That will fix things. An average quarterback sucking up all the money is how dynasties are made.

  29. Can’t wait until our first team defense comes back next year. Packer fans are the most annoying in the league. They are fans when their team is good, it’s a ghost town when their team is horrible (see the 80’s), they give themselves the name of Titletown even though other teams have more hardware, and they think they own part of the team because they pay state taxes, but it’s about as useless as the paper it’s written on. When they lose, drunk driving and domestic violence run the city. First ones to call out fans of the Vikings, Bears, and Lions, but go into hiding and change their screen names when they suck.

    If you want to know if GB fans have a life, just come here and drive around the city on any other night. The Bars, Bowling Alleys, and Liquor Stores are packed. Then like yesterday after the Vikings game, they are on here talking smack instead of watching their team play. Pretty obvious they are window lickers.

  30. “When debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.”

    It sure sounds like a long, painful off-season for somebody!

  31. I mean, when your screen name makes fun of another team’s QB injury, everyone–even your own fanbase–thinks you’re a joke.

    You were probably a bully as a kid, and now you’re a college drop out living in your parents bedroom, praying for the same kind of power that you had in 7th grade, and knowing it will never come, so you come on here and try to maintain some sort of relevance.

    There’s no way you have any friends.

    No one will mourn you when you die.

    Go Pack Go!

  32. ARod(in his collarbone) says:
    First ones to call out fans of the Vikings, Bears, and Lions

    ——————————

    Bears and Lions fans generally are knowledgeable about football, so most Packer fans respect them. The same can’t be said for Viking fans.

    You guys sound bitter now, but perhaps not as bitter as you might be a month from now.

  33. I agree with ARod. Our motto every year is “wait until next year”. It’s been a winning phrase since 1960.

  34. Kubiak is a quitter. How many teams will allow him to bail….stop hiring him. He’s good, but not reliable.

  35. Why can’t my team get some continuity like the Green Bay Packers? I know us viking fans are envious of their franchise, but dang.

  36. The Vikings are a year or two away from competing. The OL and DL need better starters and depth plus the secondary was a mess. Kubiak retiring has to do with his health and I hope he gets better.

  37. Glad to see Kubiak leave, the Vikings offense is better than the packers. thank goodness the Vikings defense had an off year.

  38. The Vikings had the #4 offense in the NFL , & struggled to be 7-9. Zim’s defense laid down all season. Zim blamed the season on injuries. The Niners finished with the #5 defense & had way more injuries than the Vikings , Zim # 29. Zim is mediocre at best. 9 out of 11 big games under Zim the Vikings just laid down. He’s a terrible motivational coach and not even a good DC. 7 years is enough to know that the Vikings can’t win a super bowl with Zim. Please fire him, now that Anthony Lynn is available, Harbaugh could take this same team & they would be 13-3. Same players. Just please fire Zim

  39. Packers fans on Vikings post because they are jealous and hated Vikings when we whoop Rodgers butt.

  40. ARod(in his collarbone) says:
    January 4, 2021 at 8:07 pm
    Can’t wait until our first team defense comes back next year. Packer fans are the most annoying in the league. They are fans when their team is good, it’s a ghost town when their team is horrible (see the 80’s), they give themselves the name of Titletown even though other teams have more hardware, and they think they own part of the team because they pay state taxes, but it’s about as useless as the paper it’s written on. When they lose, drunk driving and domestic violence run the city. First ones to call out fans of the Vikings, Bears, and Lions, but go into hiding and change their screen names when they suck.

    ——————————————————————————-
    None of this makes sense. No team in the NFL has more hardware than the Packers. The Packers were terrible in the ‘70s and ‘80s but still sold out every game (the only game that’s been blacked out in GB was the playoff game in ‘82 after the strike)…there are no more loyal fans in the league. Unlike the Vikings, Lions, and Bears the Packers haven’t sucked since before the Internet so there’s been no reason to change names. Just this fool’s username shows what a moron he is…it makes about as much sense as his stupid post.

  41. Codylaws says:
    January 5, 2021 at 12:27 am
    Packers fans on Vikings post because they are jealous and hated Vikings when we whoop Rodgers butt.
    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Just sit back and enjoy your fishing competitions on Zoom.

  42. I am hoping they give a huge contract extension to both Zimmer and Spielman. They’ve done wonders in Minnesota.

  43. “Can’t wait until our first team defense comes back next year. Packer fans are the most annoying in the league. They are fans when their team is good, it’s a ghost town when their team is horrible (see the 80’s), they give themselves the name of Titletown even though other teams have more hardware, and they think they own part of the team because they pay state taxes, but it’s about as useless as the paper it’s written on. When they lose, drunk driving and domestic violence run the city. First ones to call out fans of the Vikings, Bears, and Lions, but go into hiding and change their screen names when they suck.”

    Anyone around the league will tell you that vikings fans are the most annoying fans in football. Talk about a ghost town? I remember when the vikings home games were blacked out and would not be aired on TV, unless 3M, Pillsbury or General Mills bought all the tickets for the empty seats. Then the vikings management made all Packers fans, wanting to watch their Packers play, in the Hump Dome against the vikings, buy tickets to the next vikings home game, so that game wouldn’t be blacked out, too! Some fan base you have their, vikings! We Packer Fans are not jealous of the vikings, in any way! Why would we be jealous of a football organization that has never won a Championship? Your first team defense was playing all season long and somehow they will comeback, next year? To what? More mediocre play? A porous O Line allowing Kark to be pressured all game long? Save your breath, pal. You and your team have a long row to hoe. Meanwhile, while you sink into despair due to your team being out of the playoffs , again, we PAcklers fans will relish the fact that we earned a first week bye and are the Number 1 seed in the NFC.

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