MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings will soon begin looking for their sixth offensive coordinator since 2014.
Gary Kubiak, who has been with the franchise since 2019 and spent last season as the Vikings ’offensive coordinator, announced his retirement from the NFL Thursday after 36 seasons as coach and player.
“I’ve been on a football field most of my life and now I hope to get away from the game and enjoy more time with my family and friends,” Kubiak said in a statement. “I give my sincere thanks to the owners and fans of the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great game and for treating both me and to my family the years.
“I will miss the competition, the planning, the days of play and being part of a team. But more than anything, I will appreciate the friendships I have made along the way with players, coaches and staff. I love the game. of football and will always be his big fan “.
This is the second time Kubiak has announced his retirement from football in the last four years. Citing health issues after the 2016 season, Kubiak retired as head coach of the Broncos a year after leading Denver to a Super Bowl 50 championship. He is the only person in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl. Bowl and then won him as a head coach with the same team.
Kubiak returned to the Broncos six months after retiring in 2017 and worked with exploratory staff as a senior staff advisor for two seasons. He was hired by Vikings coach Mike Zimmer in 2019 to chair the offense as an advisor and assistant head coach, while Kevin Stefanski appointed the plays as offensive coordinator. Once Stefanski was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kubiak took on the role of coordinator.
“Gary has done a tremendous job with us at the Vikings over the last two seasons,” Zimmer said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a coach and as a person, and I’m glad I was able to coach with him. He’s had a bit of a career in the NFL as a player, assistant coach and head coach, and I’m very happy to “Gary and his wife Rhonda are leaving for their ranch. We will all miss Gary in organizing the Vikings and we wish him all the best.”
In a season of Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the Vikings finished fourth on offense and eleventh on scoring, with quarterback Kirk Cousins bouncing from throwing 10 interceptions in his first six games to finishing a 7- game. 9 with 35 touchdowns in the run.
Runner Dalvin Cook earned the MVP’s consideration as he rushed to get 1,557 yards and 17 touchdowns in total, while Justin Jefferson broke the record for catching and receiving yards as a rookie and is second of all time with 1,400 yards in his first NFL season. .
According to various sources in the league, the Vikings are considering promoting from the inside to fill the opening of offensive coordinators. Kubiak’s son, Klint, arrived with his father in 2019 as coach of the Vikings quarterbacks and could be in line to take his father’s place. Klint Kubiak, 33, has never called up plays in the NFL.
Rick Dennison, offensive play coordinator and offensive line coach, and Brian Pariani, tight-end coach, also joined Gary Kubiak in 2019.